KZSM congratulates Dylan Rhys, winner of the 2025 San Marcos Singer/ Songwriter contest last Sunday at Zelicks Icehouse. The sixteen-yearold performer traveled with his parents from Cypress, TX to participate in the competition and won with “Busy Being Lonely.” Rhys has been playing and singing since age nine and won an open mic at age thirteen. According to his website, “Dylan has crafted a sound reminiscent of other young artists like Wyatt Flores and Ty Myers. His influences include artists like Shane Smith and the Saints, Flatland Cavalry, and Turnpike Troubadours.”
Rhys will go on to compete in the Kent Finlay Texas Song Search on May 1 at FiestaJAM in Marble Falls. The winner will receive the Tillman, an award in honor of Floyd Tillman, a CMA Hall of Fame Inductee, along with a professionally produced recording of the winning song by Mauldin Productions, a radio campaign by Jenni Finlay Promotions & Southern Sky Records, and a custom handmade guitar by Texas luthier Bryan Hibler.
Everyone who performed drew a favorable response from the patrons of Zelicks Sunday afternoon. First Runner Up Randy Polk played his song “Too Old for Austin,” and it was an immediate hit with the crowd. Michael Constantine McConnell played a spirited original song on the electric autoharp about the Bubonic Plague in the 17th Century titled “Hide and Seek.” Apis Mellifera presented each judge with original artwork, in addition to playing her fantastic song “Last Cigarette.” David Patrick Dunn, Mike Sanford, Keith Clark, Dennis Jay and Keith Michael (of San Marcos’ own band Etta Place) all performed outstanding songs that earned loud cheers and appreciative applause from those in attendance.
