Songwriters in Paradise (SIP) Hurricane Relief Benefit
For the past seven years, some of Nashville’s most talented songwriters have traveled to Hope Town on the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas every year for a “Songwriters in Paradise” music festival. They have a deep and lasting relationship with the people who live there and even wrote a song called “Hope Town,” in their honor.
“It’s a very small community and those people are like family to us,” says singer/ songwriter Patrick Davis, the creator of “Songwriters in Paradise” (also called SIP). “Those little islands have around 500 to 1000 people year-round without the tourists. It’s like Mayberry, just in the Bahamas. And Hope Town was part of the first group of islands hit by Hurricane Dorian.”
HOPE TOWN, BAHAMAS - SEPTEMBER 8: Damaged homes after hurricane Dorian devastated Elbow Key Island ... [+]
After the storm, Davis set up a GoFundMe Campaign and was surprised by how quickly the total began to climb. The fund has collected nearly $420,000, so far. Then, he got a text message from one of his fellow SIP members who suggested they do a benefit show at the Ryman, the music venue in Nashville that once housed the Grand Ole Opry.
“And I thought, you know what? That’s not a bad idea.”
Davis got to work. While members of SIP have written some of biggest hit songs in country music and plan to appear in the show, Davis knew he’d need to pull in some more well-known Nashville artists to join them, if they wanted to sell-out the venue.
“So, the first person I reached out to was my good friend Darius Rucker,” Davis says.
It’s been a busy time for Rucker. He’s a solo country artist who has also been touring with Hootie & The Blowfish. And just last week, with their U.S. tour winding down, Hootie held back-to-back shows in their native South Carolina on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The benefit show in Nashville is scheduled for Monday (September 16th).
“I sent him a text and said, Hey Darius, I really, really need you to say yes to what I’m about to ask you. Please, please, please say yes.”
Rucker responded right away.
“Darius sent me back a message that said, ‘I’m in, bro.’”
Almost in tears when he read it, Davis said, “I knew if Darius did the show, it would be an easy ask for others.”
The list of stars began quickly building from there.
“I hit up Darius. And Mark Bryan of Hootie & the Blowfish said he’d be there.”
Davis also got some help from fellow songwriter Randy Houser.
“Randy was able to reach out to Dierks Bentley. Then he said he was going to be with Jamey Johnson and ask him the next day.”
The list of artists now set to perform also includes Florida Georgia Line, Kristian Bush of Sugarland, LOCASH, Chip Esten (from the TV show “Nashville”), and many, many more. It IS a sold out show.
Songwriters in Paradise Hurricane Benefit - Sold out show
Those who couldn’t make the show were happy to donate items for an online auction. Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Edwin McCain, Lee Brice, Chase Rice, and Tyler Farr all donated autographed acoustic or electric guitars. Robert Randolph donated a Signature Power Steel Guitar, as well as tickets to one of his shows. A host of other items, not all music-related, are also up for bid. Sports memorabilia, golf and travel packages, and even several autographed items from actor Bill Murray are currently listed on the Silent Auction webpage.
To view the growing list of items, click below.
Davis is grateful to see so many come together to help.
“The Nashville community is a close-knit community. It might not be as small as it used to be, but we can call on each other when there’s a need. And this is more proof. These are people from different labels, different kinds of music, people from all over the field.”
There is also a strong South Carolina connection here. Patrick Davis, Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Edwin McCain, and Lee Brice are all from South Carolina, and Bill Murray (who is a strong country music fan and even appeared on the Grand Ole Opry last year with his friend, John Prine) lives in Charleston. Davis and his band, Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir will head to England in October as the opening act for Hootie & The Blowfish overseas.
While the SIP benefit show and online auction are getting attention in Nashville, people are also working on behalf of Hope4HopeTown elsewhere.
“There is a long list of people helping with this. They’re flying planes, there are volunteers in Fort Lauderdale, volunteers in Charleston, there are people on the ground in Hope Town right now.”
Other groups are also working to assist in the Bahamas. Justin Timberlake and Tiger Wood just announced they’re partnering with a number of organizations to create the ONE Bahamas Fund. They’ve donated $6 million to kick things off.
Davis encourages people who want to help to give to any organization that best works for them. There is a tremendous need for assistance and it’s going to continue for a long time. For now, Hope4HopeTown will focus on helping those in one specific area.
“It’s really the northern Bahama islands because the major ports, Marsh Harbour, Freeport, and Grand Bahama, those places are going to get a lot of help from the Bahamians. The smaller islands are the ones that are really going to have to be helped by private groups.”
Private groups like some Nashville singers and songwriters with a personal connection to the people of Hope Town.
“It takes a village to help a village,” says Davis. “That’s what we’ve learned.”
