Hit Makers & Rum Chasers, a 25-city songwriters tour to benefit the Charley Foundation in support of music and arts initiatives for school children living in the United States and US Virgin Islands, kicks off Jan. 29 at City Winery in Nashville.

An intimate and entertaining musical experience, the tour will feature Nashville songwriters performing their hits and sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the music and the writing process in a setting which will evoke a feeling of being in the islands. Guests will enjoy Blue Chair Rum Bay cocktails, a silent auction, and an island-inspired dinner menu created by renowned USVI chefs.

Hosted each night by hit songwriter JT Harding (Keith Urban's "Somewhere in My Car" and Blake Shelton's "Sangria"), the tour will also feature Jim Beavers (Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup" and Dierks Bentley's "Am I the Only One"), Justin Ebach (Brett Young's "Sleep Without You" and Billy Currington's "It Don't Hurt Like It Used To"), Chase McGill (Little Big Town's "When Someone Stops Loving You" and Luke Bryan's "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset"), Jon Nite ("We Were Us" by Keith Urban featuring Miranda Lambert, and Kenny Chesney's "Noise"), Jimmy Robbins (Maren Morris' "I Could Use a Love Song" and Thomas Rhett's "It Goes Like this"), and Bridgette Tatum (Jason Aldean's "She's Country" and Kristy Lee Cook's "Lookin' for a Cowgirl").

Initial Hit Makers & Rum Chasers dates include:

Jan. 29 - Nashville (City Winery) - JT Harding, Jon Nite, Bridgette Tatum and Justin Ebach
Feb. 7 - Chicago (City Winery) - JT Harding, Jim Beavers and Justin Ebach
Feb 8. - Kansas City (Cherry Hall) - JT Harding, Jim Beavers and Justin Ebach
Feb. 16 - Atlanta (GA Freight Depot) - JT Harding, Jimmy Robbins, Bridgette Tatum and Corri English Bentley
March 7 - New York City (City Winery) - JT Harding, Jimmy Robins and Jim Beavers
March 8 - Boston (City Winery) - JT Harding, Jimmy Robins and Jim Beavers
March 9 - Cambridge, MD (venue TBA) - JT Harding, Bridgette Tatum and Jim Beavers
March 20 - Charleston (Galliard Center) - JT Harding, Jon Nite and Chase McGill
March 21 - Washington, DC (City Winery) - JT Harding, Jon Nite and Chase McGill
April 13 - St John, USVI (venue TBA) - JT Harding, Jimmy Robbins and Bridgette Tatum

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be hosting this Hit Makers and Rum Chasers tour," said JT Harding. "There's no app or streaming service of any kind that can give you this kind of experience. Non-stop hit songs performed by the people who wrote them in an island-vibe setting. We'll make you laugh and pull on your heartstrings. Music City is coming to your city so don't miss it!"

"The USVI was devastated by the hurricanes and as it rebuilds kids aren't getting access to music and arts programs," said Carolyn Miller, music industry veteran and Charley Foundation founder. "And funding for the arts in cities here stateside have taken a hit as budget allocations diminish. With this tour we want to help raise money for and awareness about these programs to give kids a chance to cultivate their creativity."

"There is nothing like seeing these amazing songwriter friends I know and love tell the stories behind these songs," said Jon Nite, who was instrumental in helping Miller pull together writers for the tour. "It is an experience typically only found in Nashville, but I can't wait to take our 'in the round' style to new corners of the country. It will be an honor to play along side these incredible musicians. It's even better to do it while raising money for a cause I believe in."

Hit Makers & Rum Chasers songwriting series first launched in St. John, USVI in 2013. In January 2017, the show came to City Winery in Nashville to raise USVI hurricane relief funds. All proceeds from the 2019 tour will benefit the Charley Foundation, the 501 (3) (c) which distributes funds to qualified agencies that address the critical needs of children in the US and US Virgin Islands.

Additional shows and songwriters will be announced.

For songwriter bios, table reservations, standing room tickets, sponsorship and additional information, please visit www.hitmakersandrumchasers.com