WARREN HAYNES PRESENTS: THE EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS JAM
DAVE MATTHEWS AND GOV'T MULE TO HEADLINE
TICKETS ON SALE NOVEMBER 13 AT XMASJAM.COM
(Asheville, NC) -- Named one of the 10 Best Concerts by The London Times, Warren Haynes Presents: The Christmas Jam will take place for the 18th consecutive year at the Asheville Civic Center in Haynes' hometown of Asheville, NC on Saturday December 16th at 7pm. Eager fans can tune-in to Asheville's WNCW on Friday, December 15 at 6pm for the Pre-Jam Jam Broadcast Live and non-Asheville area residents can listen to the Pre-Jam Jam online at www.wncw.org.
Ticket pre-sale will begin this Monday, November 13th at 3pm EST through Xmas Jam Ticketing (Available via www.xmasjam.com) and tickets will go on-sale through Ticketmaster (outlets, charge by phone, and online) and the Civic Center Box office on Friday November 24th at 10am.
This year's line-up includes Dave Matthews, Gov't Mule, The John Popper Project featuring DJ Logic, Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, New Orleans Social Club featuring Henry Butler, Ivan Neville, Leo Nocentelli, George Porter Jr and Raymond Webber, Taj Mahal Trio. Special guests include: Mike Barnes, Brendan Bayliss of Umphrey's McGee, Randall Bramblett, Audely Freed of Dixie Chicks, Col. Bruce Hampton, Kevn Kinney, Edwin McCain, Mickey Raphael and Dave Schools of Widespread Panic. More artists will be announced as they are confirmed.
Past Performers Include: The Allman Brothers Band, Alvin Youngblood Heart, Blues Traveler, Bob Weir, Derek Trucks Band, DJ Logic, Electric Hot Tuna, Galactic, John Hiatt & The Goners, Bill Kreutzmann, Ray LaMontagne, Living Colour, John Medeski, moe., The Neville Brothers, North Mississippi All-Stars, Phil Lesh and Friends, Phish's Trey Anastasio & Mike Gordon, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Sam Bush, John Scofield, Sonny Landreth, Dr. Ralph Stanley, String Cheese Incident's Michael Kang, Paterson Hood & Jason Isbell from The Drive By Truckers, and Widespread Panic's John Bell, Dave Schools & Todd Nance.
As a musician, Warren Haynes is famous for his improvisational prowess with the Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule; and his spontaneous guest appearances. So it might seem odd that he becomes so darn reliable -- and charitable -- each holiday season.
For 18 years, Haynes has coordinated the Warren Haynes Annual Christmas Jam. Like a family reunion, the annual, one-of-a-kind, semi-structured marathon of music brings together friends both old and new, hand-picked by Haynes.
The show thrives on the generous support of volunteer talent and behind-the-scenes personnel with the net proceeds going to charity. In the formative years of The Christmas Jam, donations were made to a different charity each year, but in 1998 Haynes and his wife Stefani Scamardo, with whom he co-produces the event each year, decided on Habitat for Humanity as the event's beneficiary.
In 2002, Haynes received the Key to the City by Asheville Mayor Worley. The benefit event raised $70,000 for the organization, selling 7200 tickets. Prior to the 2003 concert, Haynes gave keys to a family for their new Habitat for Humanity home, which was constructed with funds from the 2002 concert. The 2003, 2004 and 2005 events raised $100,000 each - bringing the total to nearly $500,000. These proceeds have been used to build nine Habitat homes in Asheville.
Both Habitat and the city of Asheville have welcomed Warren with open arms and have publicly recognized him for the money and awareness he has brought to each.
"As always," said Lew Kraus, Director of the Asheville Habitat for Humanity Chapter, "we are very grateful for Warren's extraordinary generosity."
The Asheville Chapter of Habitat for Humanity recently dedicated an entire sub-community of its Enka Village for the homes The Christmas Jam's donations help build. Former Mayor Charles Worley gave Warren the key to the city in 2002 and declared December 21st Warren Haynes Day in 2003. In 2004, the Mayor simply thanked Warren for all of his contributions to Asheville because he "has no honor left to bestow upon him."
Haynes, who will open the evening with a brief solo performance, will perform with his band Gov't Mule, and, of course, join many of the artists for spontaneous collaborations. But the impact goes far beyond the entertainment.
"Christmas Jam started 18 years ago as an opportunity for local musicians to jam at the one time of year they were all in town at the same time. Back then, we gave the money to whatever charity we felt like. As the event grew and we became aware of Habitat For Humanity, we settled on them because we believe in the organization and know the money goes where its supposed to. When your work is music, its easy and fun to give back."
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