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| Warren Haynes |
The annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam returned to the US
Cellular Center (formerly the Asheville Civic Center) in December for its 25
th
year. The event has one again expanded to two nights plus the Pre-Jam on Thursday night
at the Orange Peel. The Christmas Jam has
been one of the integral events in Asheville’s annual musical calendar since
its much smaller debut in 1989. Every
year features sought-after bands and musicians of all types collaborating
together to create a musical experience like no other. Local hero and Gov’t Mule front man Warren
Haynes has manufactured an event that not only gives people the best in musical
talent, but also gives back to the community.
All proceeds from the event go to the Habitat for Humanity, which is a
non-profit organization that aims to assist people with affordable housing. The X-mas Jam has become so popular over the
years that tickets are guaranteed to sell out weeks before the event.
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| John Scofield and Keb' Mo' |
An exciting aspect of the show is the
lack of curfew that is normally enforced in Asheville. Instead of ending at 2 AM like most events in town, the X-mas Jam is open ended and has been known to go until 3 or 4 AM so that the musicans are not rushed to finish. This
year’s event featured musical performances from Gov’t Mule, Gregg Allman, John
Scofield Uber Jam, Keb Mo, Phil Lesh Quintet, and Widespread Panic on Friday
night. Aquarium Rescue Unit, Gov’t Mule,
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Gregg Allman, Michael Franti, O.A.R., and a
special performance from John Scofield and w/ Gov’t Mule, in what they called
Sco-Mule played Saturday Night. Every
year features a variety of sit-ins from numerous other musicians. Christmas Jam 2013 featured special guest performers
such as Audley Freed, who played guitar with Gregg Allman and Friends, Ron
Holloway who sat in on saxophone with Aquarium Rescue Unit and others, and
organ player Ike Stubblefield, who sat in with Aquarium Rescue Unit and Gov’t
Mule. Other notable guest musicians
included Bill Evans, Count M’butu, Craig Sorrells, Dr. Dan Matrazzo, Jay
Bowman, Kevn Kinney, Marc Quinones, Mike Barnes, Randall Bramblett, Ron Johnson
and Roosevelt Collier. Highlights of the event were the Phil Lesh and Friends' performance on Friday night and Aquarium Rescue Unit on Saturday night who had a plethora of musicians sit in with them to create an improvisational utopia. Fans who had enough endurance to stay all the way until the end on Saturday night witnessed an amazing collaboration of John Scofield and Grace Potter each joining Warren and Gov't Mule on stage.
The 25th annual Warrren Haynes Christmas Jam 2013 satisfied the thousands
of people in attendance. The fans of
Warren and the bands that he brought to this magical mountain town left happy,
knowing that they just witnessed such an epic gathering of talent. We will all looking forward to next December.
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| Phil Lesh Quintet |
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| Phil Lesh with Phil Lesh Quintet |
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| Phil Lesh with Phil Lesh Quintet |
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| Keb' Mo', Gregg Allman, and Warren Haynes |
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| Randall Blamblett with Widespread Panic |
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| Widespread Panic |
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| Warren Haynes and Ray Sisk |
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| John Scofield and Keb' Mo' |
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| Widespread Panic |
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| Widespread Panic |
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| Widespread Panic |
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| Gov't Mule |
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| Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes |
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| Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes |
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| Jimmy Herring with Uberjam Band |
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| Jimmy Herring with Widespread Panic |
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| John Bell with Widespread Panic |
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| John Scofield with Uberjam Band |
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| Keb' Mo' |
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| Love Cannon |
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| Uberjam Band |
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| Warren Haynes |
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| Warren Haynes |
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| Warren Haynes |
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| Col. Bruce Hampton with Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| Benj Gershman with O.A.R. |
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| Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| Bill Evans, Jeff Sipe, and Roosevelt Collier with Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| Bill Evans with Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| Craig Sorrells with Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| Grace Potter with Gov't Mule |
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| Grace Potter with Gov't Mule |
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| Grace Potter with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals |
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| Grace Potter with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals |
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| Grace Potter and the Nocturnals |
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| Gregg Allman |
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| Grace Potter with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals |
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| Gregg Allman and Friends |
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| Gregg Allman |
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| Jimmy Herring with Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| Jeff Sipe with Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| John Scofield with Gov't Mule |
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| Jorgen Carlsson with Gov't Mule |
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| Mark Roberge with O.A.R. |
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| Michael Franti and Friends |
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| Michael Franti and Friends |
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| Oteil Burbridge with Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| Ron Holloway with Michael Franti and Friends |
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| Roosevelt Collier with Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| Warren Haynes with Gov't Mule |
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| Warren Haynes with Gov't Mule |
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| Warren Haynes with Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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| Warren Haynes and Craig Sorrells with Aquarium Rescue Unit |
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