From a press release:
Warren Haynes Christmas Jam announces lineup for 26th annual event
Warren Haynes will once again bring his beloved 26th Annual Christmas Jam to Asheville, NC’s US Cellular Center on December 13, 2014. One of the most celebrated and longest-running live concerts in the U.S., the Christmas Jam will benefit the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity for the 16th year in a row. Haynes recently presented the organization with a record-breaking $500,000 in Christmas Jam proceeds from last year’s epic, sold-out Silver Anniversary event.
Each year, the Christmas Jam sets the stage for surprise collaborations, rare appearances and musical sets that rock into the wee hours of the morning. The tradition is sure to continue with this year’s line-up, part of which has been announced today to help mark October 6th as World Habitat Day. Artists scheduled to perform (listed alphabetically) are Billy & The Kids (a new group formed by Grateful Dead founding member Bill Kreutzmann with Aaron Magner (The Disco Biscuits), Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green) & Tom Hamilton (American Babies, Brothers Past) Gov’t Mule, Hard Working Americans(featuring Todd Snider, Dave Schools, Neal Casal, Chad Staehly & Duane Trucks), Jason Isbell with his band, The Revivalists and Vince Gill. This will be Kreutzmann’s second appearance at the event, having previously performed in 2005 as part of a one-time only supergroup with Phish’s Trey Anastasio & Mike Gordon. Jason Isbell, who will be making his triumphant return to Christmas Jam after a seven-year absence, recently swept The Americana Awards, nabbing Artist of the Year and Song of the Year (for “Cover Me Up”), as well as the night’s top honor: Album of the Year, for his post-sobriety triumph Southeastern. This will be Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill’s first Christmas Jam appearance despite Gill and Haynes having tried to make it work in the past and schedules not working out until now. Gill has sold more than 26 million albums and is a two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year. He has earned 20 Grammy Awards (the most of any country artist) and is tied with George Straight for having won the most CMA Male Vocalist Awards.
Christmas Jam is widely known for its array of special guest performers, who will be announced in the coming weeks along with other additions to the line-up.
Doors open at 6pm and the show begins at 7pm. For up-to-the minute updates, please visit www.xmasjam.com and follow @xmas jam on Twitter.
VIP tickets and travel packages will go on-sale October 9th. The pre-sale begins October 13th and the public on-sale begins October 17th.
There will also once again be a slew of “Xmas Jam By Day” events including daytime concerts and special events well as “Before The Jam Lend A Hand,” where volunteers can help build the houses made possible by Christmas Jam donations. Complete details on these events will be announced in the upcoming weeks. Stay up-to-date on Christmas Jam info at the website www.xmasjam.com, Facebook www.facebook.com/xmasjam and Twitter https://twitter.com/xmasjam.
Curated and presented by the legendary, Grammy Award-winning vocalist-guitarist Warren Haynes, the Christmas Jam is a one-of-a-kind music marathon that brings together old friends both on and off the stage. Last year’s two-night 25th Anniversary extravaganza saw blow-out performances from Gregg Allman and Widespread Panic and was the first concert in over 10 years for the Phil Lesh Quartet. The Aquarium Rescue Unit “supergroup” performed for only the second time since 2007. Anything can happen. Christmas Jam’s rich history continues to grow year after year and has seen unforgettable musical moments from past performers including The Allman Brothers Band, Blues Traveler, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Jackson Browne, Coheed & Cambria, Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, Ani Difranco, Drive-By Truckers, Peter Frampton, Michael Franti, Ben Harper, Hot Tuna, Ray LaMontagne, Phil Lesh & Friends, Little Feat, Los Lobos, Dave Matthews, Steve Miller Band, Neville Brothers, O.A.R., Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, John Scofield, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks Band, Bob Weir, Johnny Winter and so many more.
Since its inception 26 years ago, the concert has provided an opportunity for the performing artists, audience and the local community to give back during the holiday season. Over the past 16 years, Haynes – an Asheville native – has worked closely with the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Proceeds from the annual Christmas Jam concert, which thrives on the generous support of volunteers, go to help construct energy-efficient new houses for dozens of families as well as secure land for entire Habitat subdivisions. In July 2014, standing on the site of the new Hudson Hills subdivision named after Haynes and his wife Stefani’s son, Hudson, Haynes handed a half-million dollars in Christmas Jam proceeds to Habitat for Humanity, marking one of the largest contributions to the organization to date. The street into the subdivision – Soulshine Court – is a nod to the classic song written by Haynes. In 2013, Haynes was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from UNC Asheville for his work with the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.
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