Crow, Blind Boys, SCI part of Haynes' Xmas Jam

NC-native Warren Haynes will hold his 24th Annual Xmas Jam in his old hometown of Asheville, December 15. The Gov't Mule/Allman Brothers' guitarist always welcomes an interesting group of guest musicians to the long running holiday fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. Some have been there practically every year since the jam's humble beginning at the 45 Cherry Club in 1989, but it also attracts new A-listers to the mountains each holiday season. This year's headliners include Sheryl Crow, Blind Boys from Alabama, String Cheese Incident, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and Haynes himself. Frequent participants Mike Barnes, Anders Obsborne and Kevn Kinney (of Drivin' n' Cryin') are listed as special guests and more will be added before the December show.

The 24th Annual Xmas Jam marks both String Cheese Incident and Crow's first, although SCI's Michael Kang appeared as a guest in 2003 and Crow's band - Audley Freed, Robert Kearns, and Fred Eltringham -  are considered Jam regulars.

The Xmas Jam isn't the only attraction that weekend. Kinney will lead an All-Star Acoustic Jam at Jack of the Wood on Friday night and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are only available at the door day-of. Anders Osborne, the Revivalists, and the Lee Boys will perform Saturday at Asheville Music Hall while Velvet Truckstop, Jeff Santiago, the Folkadelics & Delicious perform at the Emerald Lounge. Tickets for the additional shows are available here.

The actual Jam takes place Saturday at The US Cellular Center Asheville (the former Asheville Civic Center). VIP tickets are available here. General admission tickets are available for $69.10 here. Proceeds, as always, benefit Habitat for Humanity. Find out more at www.xmasjam.com/2012/.