For many years WNCW staff members in Spindale, North Carolina have made it a top priority to work with the Asheville Area Habitat For Humanity. Traditionally, WNCW has worked with Warren Haynes and his Christmas Jam and Pre-Jam concert events that have helped raise funds that directly provide families with a process allowing them to help build their own home and make their own mortgage payments. WNCW staffers have also spent time volunteering and helping construct some of the Christmas Jam homes.
This year Warren Haynes and his amazing group of musicians and Habitat friends are taking a small break from the Jams for 2019. The musicians will be back in action in 2020. In the meantime, WNCW management decided to have a benefit concert anyway, to stay in the spirit of giving.
"The Warren Haynes Christmas Jam Weekend is such a major event each year for Asheville, that it just felt like we needed to do something in a year when it was on a break,” said Dave Kester, WNCW Director of Operations. "Warren has done so much for Asheville, for Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, and for WNCW, that we thought, you know, it’s time that we gave back. After a brief call with several of the folks who are partners in the Christmas Jam and Pre-Jam every year, “Holidaze for Habitat” was born."
Holidaze For Habitat and will be held at The Orange Peel, in downtown Asheville on December 13 - show time begins at 7pm.
The lineup is as eclectic and wildly wonderful as any WNCW playlist. Drivin' N Cryin', featuring Kevn Kinney, headlines the event. Jam lovers unite! Kevn has been a staple in most of the previous Christmas Jam lineups, as is another musician playing at WNCW's Holidaze event, Mike Barnes. Add to that, an Asheville fave, Ashley Heath and Her Heathens. They won the MerleFest Band Competition in 2018 and Ashley was voted #1 Songwriter/Acoustic/Folk and Americana Country Artist of the Year in 2018 by the readers of Asheville's Mountain Xpress Magazine. She's been called "The Next Queen of Americana." Then there's Darin and Brooke Aldridge, multi-International Bluegrass Music Association Award winners - Brooke has been named "Female Vocalist of the Year" three years in a row 2017, 2018 and 2019 and Darin was named "Mentor of the Year" in 2017. Unspoken Tradition, a multitalented bluegrass and roots music, chart topping band, is also on the menu for the Holidaze for Habitat event, as is Bobby Miller and The Virginia Daredevils, a seasoned group of musicians who'll play anything from psychedelic jams of the 1960's to Big Band Swing Music from the 1930's. Add Travers Brothership band to the "Asheville Favorites" Christmas list and the you can see why this is gonna be a night to be remembered. The Brothership is a quartet made up of of twin brothers Eric and Kyle Travers, and friends Josh Clark and Ian McIssac. The jam/rock/blues and soul band is known for captivating audiences everywhere they play. Whew. And then... there's going to be a few surprise drop in "super cool" musicians, just to make the night even sweeter, just like the Jams.
"I’ve worked for about a week now with Liz Whalen Talent at the Orange Peel, Frank Bloom, Steve Johnson, and our staff here at the station to pull this thing together," said Kester. "We all have contacts with various artists in the area and the response to our ask for help has been amazing. It definitely put me in the Holiday Spirit working together with everyone, donating their talents and time for the cause. We know the music lovers in Asheville and Western NC have that same spirit, and will come out to Holi daze for Habitat, enjoy 4 to 5 hours of fantastic live music, and support Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity."
So... make plans to spend an evening with WNCW staffers, Music Hosts, friends and family - December 13, 2019 in Asheville, NC at the amazing Orange Peel, voted "one of the top five rock venues" in America by Rolling Stone Magazine. Have some fun, listen to great music and help someone realize a a dream of owning their own home. It's a win win event!
For ticket info: The Orange Peel
About Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
Founded in 1983, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity was the first Habitat affiliate in North Carolina. Through Habitat homeownership and home repair programs, nearly 1,700 adults and children in Buncombe County have achieved the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build a better future. A decent place to call home and an affordable mortgage enables Habitat homeowners to save more, invest in education, pursue opportunities and have greater financial stability. Learn more about Asheville Area Habitat, a Charity Navigator 4-star non-profit, and how you can get involved at ashevillehabitat.org.