Press Release: Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky – For Immediate Release: April 6, 2020

The Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky (BCFNS) has announced the 2020 Hill Country Night Sky Songwriting Contest.  This year’s contest, open to songwriters of any genre or residence, focuses on the theme “Preserving the Night Sky.”  Deadline for song submission is September 25, 2020.

The “Night Sky in a Mason Jar,” featured on the flyer announcing the Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky’s 2020 Hill Country Night Sky Song Writing Contest, was extracted from the winning submission in the organization’s 2019 Night Sky Art Contest. Natalie Gonzalez, a Blanco Middle School Student, was the winning artist. Her painting has been selected as the cover art for the new CD, Deep in the Dark of Texas™, Vol II.


“Last year’s contest was such a success we decided to do it again!” said Larry Seiler, BCFNS treasurer and owner of the Los Senderos Recording Studio located between Blanco and Johnson City.  “We ended up recording 13 great songs from mostly local artists and put them on a terrific CD, Deep in the Dark of Texas™, Vol 1, that we’re now selling on our website.”
One of last year’s best new original songs was written by Hill Country resident, Ken Frederick.  His lyrics perfectly captured the essence of night sky preservation in the Texas Hill Country.  For his song, “Hill Country Nights,” he wrote
Don’t bring your city lights, to our Hill Country nights. Don’t bring no neon signs, they’re not welcome if you try.  The only lights we need, God put up in the sky. So please don’t bring those city lights, to our Hill Country nights.”
The 2020 contest seeks to build on this theme, stressing the things we can all do to reduce light pollution and preserve the starry skies we still enjoy here in the Hill Country.
“Right now, with everyone basically locked down at home because of the pandemic, is an ideal time for people to put their creative talents to work,” said Vicki Guidry, BCFNS Vice President.  “In these troubled times, we need our dark skies more than ever as a source of hope and inspiration.”
Barbara Hudson, BCFNS Secretary, said “Last year’s CD was truly remarkable.  We have so many talented songwriters in Johnson City, Blanco, and the surrounding area that we are confident we’ll get some terrific songs again this year and Deep in the Dark of Texas™, Vol II will be even better than last year’s great effort!”
All funds from CD sales will go to help preserve the Hill Country’s night skies.
The 2020 Hill Country Night Sky Song Contest rules and registration form can be found on the BCFNS website, www.blancocountynightsky.org/contest.
Learn more from the Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky here.


For more information, contact Wayne Gosnell, (210) 557-6127; GosnellTexas@Gmail.com