Gov’t Mule were joined by plenty of special guests as they paid tribute to Neil Young during Warren Haynes’ 26th annual Christmas Jam at the US Cellular Center in Asheville, NC last night. The marathon show also featured performances by Billy & The Kids, Hard Working Americans, Jason Isbell, The Revivalists and the Love Canyon Rangers, though Vince Gill cancelled his appearance due to the passing of his Time Jumpers bandmate and singer Dawn Sears.

Billy & The Kids—Bill Kreutzmann’s new project with Aron Magner, Reed Mathis and Tom Hamilton—took the stage for their first-ever full show after an introduction from Haynes. The band, who played a surprise three-song set at the previous night’s Christmas Jam Pre-Jam, came out the gate with a string of Dead tunes, including “Shakedown Street,” “Tennessee Jed,” “Crazy Fingers,” “Bertha” and “Deal.” The quartet then went into a surprising rendition of Phish’s “Chalk Dust Torture” (marking the second time that Kreutzmann has covered the jam titans this month) before Col. Bruce Hampton joined in for a “Turn On Your Lovelight” that bookended his own “Basically Frightened.” The “Lovelight” then segued back into the end of “Chalk Dust Torture,” which was followed by “Estimated Prophet” and “Me and My Uncle.” Next, Haynes joined the group for takes on The Beatles “Dear Prudence” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” before bringing the set to a close with The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”

Gov’t Mule also treated fans to a very special performance, which saw the group honor Neil Young (as well as Faces and Led Zeppelin) with a number of special guests. The set began with Jackie Greene joining in for takes on Young’s “Cinnamon Girl” and “Tonight’s The Night” before drummer Matt Abt and bassist Jorgen Carlsson put down their instruments for “For The Turnstiles.” Greene stuck around for Young’s “Old Man,” which was then followed by a cover of “Helpless” that featured Jason Isbell and Neal Casal. Next, trombonist Danny Louis took the stage to help Jackie Greene through a solo rendition of “After The Gold Rush” before the band returned for “Cowgirl In The Sand” and “Down By The River.” Greene finally made his exit as Audly Freed and Caleb Johnson appeared for a cover of Faces’ “Stay With Me” that was dedicated to the late Ian McGlagan, and the pair stayed on stage for the take on Led Zeppelin’s “Trampled Under Foot” that brought the show to a close.

Additional highlights from yesterday’s Christmas Jam include Hard Working Americans’ rendition of Drivin’ N Cryin’s “Staight to Hell,” which featured a sit in from Drivin’ N Cryin frontman Kevn Kinney. The song appear on Hard Working Americans cover-filled, self-titled debut album. Haynes also teamed up with Oteil Burbridge, Jack Pearson, Danny Louis and Paul Riddle for a Christmas Band set the included takes on Marshall Tucker Band’s “Take The Highway,” “Southern Woman” and “Can’t You See,” along with a sit in from Craig Sorrells and Mike Barnes. Yesterday also saw Haynes sit in with New Orleans rockers The Revivalists for “Soul Fight,” while Love Canon teamed up with Mike Guggino and Micky Sanders of the Steep Canyon Rangers for a “Love Canyon Rangers” set.

Here’s a look at last night’s setlists:

Love Canyon Rangers (Love Canon + Mike Guggino & Nicky Sanders of Steep Canyon Rangers):

Walking After Midnight

Doin My Time

Good Ole Boys

Cherokee Shuffle

How Mountain Girls Can Love

Legs

Warren Haynes & Caleb Johnson:

Soulshine
 
The Revivalists:


Not Turn Away > Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (w/ Craig Sorrells)

Criminal

Soul Fight (w/ Warren Haynes)

Baba O’Riley

Love Canon:

Axle F
B
linded Me With Science

Hide Head Blues

Maniac

Sledgehammer

Hard Working Americans:

Ascending Into Madness

Another Train

Is This Thing Working

Blackland Farmer

Run A Mile

Guaranteed

Straight to Hell (w/ Kevn Kinney)

Stomp and Holler

Love Canon:

Centerfold
Don’t you want me

Symphony #40 (Mozart)

Jason Isbell:


Stockholm

Go It Alone

Heart on a String (Candi Staton cover)
Danko/Manuel

Flying Over Water

Cover Me Up

Super 8

Christman Jam Band (Haynes, Pearson, Louis, Riddle, Brubridge):



Take the Highway

Southern Woman (w/ Craig Sorrells & Mike Barnes)

Can’t You See

Gov’t Mule:


Cinnamon Girl (w/ Jackie Greene)

Tonight’s the Night (w/ Jackie Greene)

For the Turnstiles (w/ Jackie Greene, no Abts or Carlsson)

Old Man (w/ Jackie Greene on banjo)

Helpless (w/ Jackie Greene, Jason Isbell and Neal Casal)

After the Gold Rush (Greene solo w/ Danny Louis)

Down by the River (w/ Jackie Greene)

Stay with Me (w/ Caleb Johnson and Audly Freed)

Trampled Under Foot (w/ Caleb Johnson and Audly Freed)
   

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