Warren Haynes opened the 15th Annual Christmas Jam solo acoustic on Saturday evening at the Asheville Civic Center and closed it out six hours later as part of a Gregg Allman & Friends line-up that also included Paul Riddle, Andy Hess, Danny Louis (and for the final ‘Soulshine’ Audley Freed & Artemis Pyle). The event’s namesake appeared throughout the course of the evening taking the stage with Sonny Landreth, North Mississippi Allstars, John Bell and the Stained Souls (Sonny Landreth and Col. Bruce Hampton were sharing guitar duties for this incarnation of the band, which also welcomed appearances by John Bell and Mike Barnes). Over the course of his set Bell was also joined by Dave Schools and Todd Nance, closing with ‘Papa’s Home’ and ‘Travelin Light.’ Keller Williams’ slot proved to be an additional collaborative venture as he enlisted Sam Bush, John Cowan, Michael Kang for ‘Maggie’s Farm’ and then welcomed the Yonder Mountain String Band for ‘Portapotty’ (all of his guests would then perform a bluegrass set). Still, while good musical fellowship and Haynes himself predominated, the Christmas Jam is at its core a benefit for Habitat for Humanity and on the previous day Haynes turned over the keys to a house to a couple who will receive a home built through the funds raised through the 2002 Christmas Jam.