Our Mission

Hidden away in the small and isolated towns of Wyoming are many talented troubadours and songsmiths of all ages, styles, and experience levels. Some play for their chickens, some play at local open-mic nights, while some tour the country with a full ensemble.  Each one has a story to tell, and each one contributes to the evolving narrative and culture of Wyoming. 

Wyoming Singer-Songwriters’ mission is to: 

1) Build supportive communities of songwriters grounded in a shared love of music, song writing, and the exploration of human experiences both common and unique, especially those specific to the people and land of Wyoming. 

2) Cultivate and promote excellence in songwriting by facilitating workshops, hosting songwriting challenges, and giving artists the opportunity to refine their craft in professional recording studios.

3) Host an annual Singer-Songwriter festival and competition. Over the course of a weekend, this festival brings together artists from across the state to compete for a singer-songwriter grand prize, provides networking and community building opportunities between artists, judges, and audience members, and hosts a number of family-friendly events including songwriting workshops and the final competition concert. 

Competition Information

The annual competition begins in July and August with regional qualifying rounds throughout the state. This year, rounds will be held in Lander, Casper, Laramie, Cheyenne, Cody, and Buffalo/Story. In each qualifying round, up to 4 contestants will advance to the final competition held on Labor Day weekend, September 1-3 at Ten Sleep Brewery in Ten Sleep, Wyoming. There will also be two qualifying rounds held at the beginning of the festival weekend in Ten Sleep on Thursday, August 31.

• Each contestant will perform 3 songs they have written for fellow contestants and audience members who are following along with printed lyrics sheets.

• All contestants need to print 40 copies of the 3 original songs they intend to perform, formatted onto one double-sided 8x11 sheet. Show up 1 hour before the event for detailed information, but you must first register HERE.

• During regional qualifying rounds, the judging will be done by a diverse panel that recognizes both the top songs as well as the top singer-songwriters.

• The grand prize for the competition in Ten Sleep is $5000, sponsored by Wyoming Whiskey. Second and third-place singer-songwriters will also be awarded a cash prize.

• For more information, about logistics and lodging, see our list of Frequently Asked Questions or email us! Hope to see you there!