Visit Abaco in February to enjoy 'Country Music in Paradise'

Every year for the past four years, some of Nashville's finest country music composers gather for a week of performances in Paradise. The annual "Songwriters in Paradise" country music festival happens every February in Hope Town, Abaco and gains popularity every year. Showcasing a different venue each night, these group of performers offer up some of the best songs in country music, past and present.

This group of fun-loving, beer drinking, country crooners kicks off the week of tunes in the sun at Firefly Sunset Resort with a "meet and greet". You may not be familiar with the names of these songwriters, but as soon as they start singing, your first thought is, "Oh wow I love this song!".

At the inaugural event, I asked one of the artists if they could play some "radio" country to get the crowd going, so one of the artists grabbed the mic and started singing "Cruise", by Florida Georgia Line. When he was done I thanked him and told him that was the exact kind of song I had in mind, to which he replied, "Baby girl I wrote that song in my living room!". These guys are the real deal and have credits on some of the top chart smashing hits.

The crowd jumps from venue to venue each night, featuring some of Hope Town's finest spots like the Abaco Inn, Seaspray Marina, Hope Town Inn & Marina, and the Harbour's Edge Restaurant. The island fills up very quickly, so I suggest booking your accommodations, boat and golf cart rentals far in advance!

The event also raises money for several local charities. Since 2013, Songwriters In Paradise has helped raise almost $60,000 for charities in Hope Town and Marsh Harbour, including the Hope Town Primary School and Friends of the Environment.

Whether you are a country music fan or not, Songwriters in Paradise provides a week of great entertainment in Abaco, and we suggest joining whenever you can.