Longtime Allman Brothers Band guitarist Warren Haynes is gearing up to host the 25th annual edition of his Christmas Jam, which will take place December 13 and 14 at the US Cellular Center in his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. The year's concerts will feature a particularly impressive lineup that includes Allman Brothers frontman Gregg Allman, the Haynes-led group Gov't Mule and the Phil Lesh Quintet, which features the founding Grateful Dead bass player as well as Warren.
Gregg Allman will be appearing at both concerts — teaming up with Haynes for an acoustic duo set at the first show and apparently playing solo at the second. Other acts set to hit the stage during the two-day extravaganza include Widespread Panic, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Keb Mo, the Aquarium Rescue Unit and acclaimed jazz-rock guitarist John Scofield. In addition, several well-known musicians will appear as special guests at the concerts, including Allman Brothers Band percussionist Marc Quinonesand famed Motown keyboardist Ike Stubblefield.
The 25th Annual Christmas Jam will benefit the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity charity, which the event has helped support for more than a decade.
In addition to the two evening concerts, a series of "Christmas Jam by Day" events will be scheduled that will include music performances and art exhibits held at various locations in and around Asheville during that same weekend. There also will be an initiative called "Before the Jam Lend a Hand," that will give volunteers the opportunity to help build the houses funded by Christmas Jam donations. For more information about this year's Christmas Jam visit XmasJam.com and Facebook.com/XmasJam.
Here are the lineups for this year's Christmas Jam concerts (subject to change):
Friday December 13, 2013: Gregg Allman & Warren Haynes Acoustic, Gov't Mule, Phil Lesh Quintet, Widespread Panic, Keb Mo, The John Scofield Uberjam Band
Saturday December 14, 2013: Gregg Allman, Gov't Mule, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Michael Franti, OAR, SCO-MULE (collaboration between John Scofield and Gov't Mule)
