The Warren Haynes Christmas Jam

Starting in 1988, Warren Haynes began inviting a variety of musicians to come and play in Asheville, North Carolina, once a year for charity.

The first show was dubbed, "The Christmas Jam: Musician's X-Mas Reunion" and was held at 45 Cherry, a local club in Asheville, on December 22 1988. Some of the artists at the first Christmas Jam were Warren Haynes, Mike Barnes, Crystal Zoo, The Stripp Band and the McBad Brothers Band.

This event has continued to grow every year and is now dubbed "Warren Haynes Presents: The Christmas Jam". The show sells out in a matter of hours every year. Because of the fantastic growth, it is currently held at the U.S. Cellular Center (formerly known as the Asheville Civic Center), and continues to feature artists and friends Haynes has played with over the years. In 2008, for its special 20th year anniversary, The Christmas Jam consisted of two nights of music. However it went back to only one night in 2009.

Charity

Initially, the charities benefiting from the Christmas Jam varied from the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, AIDS charities, and homeless relief groups among others. Haynes settled on Habitat for Humanity in 1988. As of 2007, nearly one million dollars had been raised for the Asheville Chapter of Habitat For Humanity.

Past lineups

2006
Asheville Civic Center (Saturday, December 16, 2006)
Featuring: Dave Matthews, Gov't Mule, The John Popper Project Featuring DJ Logic, Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, New Orleans Social Club Feat. Henry Butler, Leo Nocentelli, Ivan Neville, George Porter & Raymond Weber, Taj Mahal Trio

Special Guests: Mike Barnes, Brendan Bayliss, Randall Bramblett, Audley Freed, Col. Bruce Hampton, Taylor Hicks, Kevn Kinney, Branford Marsalis, Mickey Raphael, Dave Schools

2007

Asheville Civic Center (Saturday, December 15, 2007)

Featuring: Jackson Browne, Peter Frampton, G. Love, Gov't Mule, Bruce Hornsby, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Stockholm Syndrome

Special Guests: Mike Barnes, Mike Farris, Audley Freed, Col. Bruce Hampton, Ron Holloway, Jason Isbell, Robert Kearns, Kevn Kinney, Bernie Worrell

2008

Asheville Civic Center (Friday, December 12, 2008 & Saturday, December 13, 2008)

For the 20th Anniversary, The Xmas Jam was changed to a two-night event.

Night 1: Friday, December 12, 2008

Featuring: The Allman Brothers Band, The Del McCoury Band, The Derek Trucks Band, Gov't Mule, John Paul Jones, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Joan Osborne, Travis Tritt

Special Guests: Karl Denson, Robben Ford, Ruthie Foster, JJ Grey, Matt Grondin, Ron Holloway, Eric Krasno, The Lee Boys, Susan Tedeschi, Tal Wilkenfeld

Night 2: Saturday, December 13, 2008

Featuring: Ben Harper & Relentless7, Coheed & Cambria, Steve Earle, Michael Franti & Jay Bowman Acoustic, Gov't Mule, John Paul Jones, Johnny Winter, Xmas Jam Band

Special Guests: Mike Barnes, Buddy Cage, Karl Denson, Fiddle Dave, Robben Ford, Ruthie Foster, Audley Freed, Jen Gunderman, Ron Holloway, Patterson Hood, Derrick Johnson, Robert Kearns, Kevn Kinney, Eric Krasno, Edwin McCain, Joan Osborne, Mickey Raphael, Craig Sorrells, Travis Tritt

2009

Asheville Civic Center (Saturday, December 12, 2009)

Featuring: Counting Crows, Ani DiFranco, Gov't Mule, moe., George Porter Jr., Eric Krasno, Nigel Hall & Adam Deitch with a Very Special Performance from Stax Records Legend William Bell.

Special Guests: Aerosmith's Brad Whitford, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Jeff Austin, Mike Barnes, DJ Logic, Jackie Greene, Col. Bruce Hampton, Jimmy Herring of Widespread Panic, Kevn Kinney & Collective Soul's Ed Roland.

Plus The Xmas Jam Band Featuring: Fred Eltringham, Audley Freed of the Black Crowes, Ron Holloway & Robert Kearns (musician).

2010

Asheville Civic Center (Saturday, December 11, 2010)

Featuring: Steve Miller Band, The Warren Haynes Band, Gregg Allman, John Bell (Widespread Panic), Umphrey's McGee, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Missing Cats

Special Guests: Mike Barnes, Cody Dickinson, Fred Eltringham, Sherman Ewing, Ruthie Foster, Audley Freed, John "JoJo" Hermann, Terence Higgins, Ron Holloway, Ron Johnson, Robert Kearns, Kevn Kinney, Ivan Neville

2011

Asheville Civic Center (Saturday, December 10, 2011)

Featuring: Gov't Mule, Phil Lesh & Friends, Los Lobos, Bela Fleck

Special Guests: Mike Barnes, Jeff Chimenti, Bill Evans, Audley Freed, Jackie Greene, Jimmy Herring, Robert Kearns, Kevn Kinney, Brad Pemberton, Joe Russo, Jeff Sipe

2012

Asheville Civic Center (Saturday, December 15, 2012)

Featuring: Warren Haynes, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, The String Cheese Incident, Warren Haynes Band

Special Guests: Nigel Hall, Karl Denson, Ron Holloway, Terrence Higgins, Anders Osborne, Count M’Butu, Rob Ingraham, David Shaw, Ed Williams, Zack Feinberg, Dr. Dan Matrazzo, Mike Barnes, Artimus Pyle

2013

Asheville Civic Center (Friday, December 12, 2008 & Saturday, December 13, 2008)

For the 25th Anniversary, The Xmas Jam format expanded to two nights.

Night 1: Friday, December 13, 2013

Featuring: Warren Haynes & Ray Sisk, Gov't Mule, Love Canon, Keb' Mo', John Scofield and the Uberjam Band, Greg Allman, Phil Lesh Quintet, Widespread Panic

Special Guests: Ike Stubblefield, Randall Bramblett, Birdland, Jay Bowman, Ron Holloway, Ron Johnson, Casey Driessen, Jeff Sipe, Ike Stubblefield

Night 2: Saturday, December 14, 2013

Featuring: Aquarium Rescue Unit, O.A.R., Michael Franti & Friends, Gregg Allman & Friends, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Gov't Mule, Xmas Jam Band

Special Guests: Craig Sorrells, Bill Evans, Roosevelt Collier, Casey Driessen, Mike Seal, Dr. Dan Matrazzo, Billy Thornton, Ron Holloway, Mike Barnes, Ron Johnson, Jeff Sipe, Audley Freed, Count M'butu, John Scofield

2014

U.S. Cellular Center (Saturday, December 13, 2014)

Featuring: Gov't Mule, Jason Isbell, Billy & the Kids, Hard Working Americans, The Revivalists, and more. Vince Gill was on the original line-up, but could not make it due to the passing of his long-time backup singer.