Dave Grohl and Warren Haynes, Christmas Jam 2018
On the evening of Nov. 12, Warren Haynes announced that his annual Christmas Jam will not return to Asheville, NC in 2019.
“I will certainly miss seeing you all this year,” Haynes wrote. “Christmas Jam has become such a special time for me, my family and our Asheville community, and we look forward to continuing the tradition that we have all built together for many years to come.”
The event celebrated its 30th straight year in 2018, with a particularly memorable collaboration between Dave Grohl and Gov’t Mule.
However, as Haynes explains, this year’s sabbatical doesn’t mean Christmas Jam is gone for good. “We are already planning a big show for 2020 and we can’t wait to share with you what’s in store. We will see you next year,” he wrote.
Christmas Jam is referred to as “one of the most celebrated and longest-running live benefit concerts in the U.S.” and it has raised almost $3 million for the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.
Check out Relix‘s photo gallery from Christmas Jam 2018 here.
For updated information – including a list of Christmas Jam-adjacent events for 2019 – visit XmasJam.com.
Read Haynes’ full statement below:
“Since we started the Christmas Jam in 1988, it has grown in every way we wished for, and in many ways that we could have only hoped for when we first set out. After three decades, and an amazing two-night 30th Anniversary last year, it feels like the right time to take a brief moment to press pause. We have poured our heart and soul into creating this annual event and our commitment to serve the Asheville community and Habitat for Humanity remains strong.
I am so grateful to our many partners that help us bring the community together around the Christmas Jam every year, including the city of Asheville, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, WNCW, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., CID Entertainment, all of our production partners, venues, hotels, and local businesses, our incredible staff and volunteers, and countless others. And, of course, all the fans who have supported the Christmas Jam. We can’t do it without you.
I will certainly miss seeing you all this year. Christmas Jam has become such a special time for me, my family and our Asheville community, and we look forward to continuing the tradition that we have all built together for many years to come. We are already planning a big show for 2020 and we can’t wait to share with you what’s in store. We will see you next year.”
16 Comments comments associated with this post
SideShow Bob
November 15, 2019 at 8:01 amMyles Garrett takes marijuana.
I’m just saying.
NINZY
November 14, 2019 at 4:02 pmA big thank you for all the good years and hope to catch you at the Met soon.
John Mason
November 14, 2019 at 9:28 amMaybe Haynes’ll give The Mule a rest in 2020 too….tired ol’ animal needs it!?
Denise
November 13, 2019 at 7:10 pmI adore Warren & see him play every chance I get! With the Dead, at The Peach festival, in SAn diego.. we even chatted a few times🎶👍
Blood is thicker than water. He deserves to take a break and stand by his brother!💕🎶💙🎶
Mike Moody
November 13, 2019 at 5:05 pmThe peripheral economic impact to the Asheville area is not mentioned.
Many folks count on the Xmas Jam weekend boom for their Xmas bonus. Hotels, rentals, restaurants, breweries, all lose.
SideShow Bob
November 13, 2019 at 4:56 pmStop taking marijuana and you stop having problems.
Willie
November 13, 2019 at 9:30 pmStop having problems. Smoke marijuana.
Fixed it for you.
me
November 14, 2019 at 2:18 pmQuite possibly the dumbest comment ever… I’m not sure if there is a better natural herb on the face of the planet that helps as much as marijuana. Those who screw up, rarely screw up because of pot, rather pot happens to be part of their lives as well… likely the only thing that helped the real issue at all… but go ahead and blame a plant for the world’s ills…
Jamie Ellis
November 13, 2019 at 3:33 pmMy wife just had foot surgery, and can’t make it!! That’s why Warren cancelled!!
Christoph Kenyan
November 13, 2019 at 1:05 pmLooks like Ole Santa Warren dumped some coal in my stocking this year. But I don’t care. Still got a sweet knife collection.
WOODMAKER
November 13, 2019 at 11:51 amReal reason, please? Fans are not dumb…
Just sayin'
November 13, 2019 at 2:52 pmWarren’s brother was fired from Asheville Habitat for Humanity(after 13 years) for protesting their anti Marijuana policy. He refused to submit to a drug screen saying it was illogical to say that having any remnants of THC is his system from the past 60 days would be cause for him to not be able to preform his job.
A lesson…don’t bite the hand that feeds you. And feeds you well at that.
I’d be willing to bet the farm that there is a new non profit beneficiary in 2020.
Jeffrey Schreiber
November 13, 2019 at 3:51 pmI’m surprised they feel that way at HfH. Jimmy Carter has been very involved in it and he wanted to have weed legalization in 1976
Ungodly
November 14, 2019 at 12:37 pmAll it takes is a few whackjobs in charge to screw it up for everyone. A lot of religious people seem to be involved with Habitat For Humanity, and not all of them are as enlightened as Jimmy Carter.
Steve Moore
November 13, 2019 at 3:00 pmHabitat let his brother go because he refused to take a drug test for THC.
WOODMAKER
November 13, 2019 at 5:22 pmKnew it! Nice detective work boys! No reason why they still couldn’t have it for a charity to be named later or just pick one, real fast, for one year. $100,000 per year ain’t a staggering amount. Rex Foundation anyone?