THE POSITIVE JAM WEB PAGE IS UP @ thepositivejam.com…

Dan Smalls Presents in association with Ithaca Beer is proud to present The Positive Jam, a daylong festival of rising national talent in Ithaca’s Stewart Park on Sunday September 6th.  The Hold Steady, The Felice Brothers, Deer Tick, The Rural Alberta Advantage, and Caution Children will appear. The event is the follow-up to Ithaca Beer’s 3rd annual Brewfest that occurs on Saturday, September 5th, also in Stewart Park. Tickets for the Brewfest and the concert will go on sale Friday, July 17th at 10AM. Tickets for The Positive Jam will be available without service charge at the State Theatre Box Office, 105 West State Street in Ithaca and cost $25.00 in advance.  Day of show tickets will cost $35.00.  Tickets will also be available online HERE (CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS) and at all Tickets.com locations including by phone at 800.919.6272.  Tickets for the Brewfest will be available at these same locations and others to be announced at a later date.  There will be a special combo ticket offered as well that provides a savings for those attending both events.  The Brewfest is for ages 21 and up, Sunday’s concert is ALL AGES and gates will open at noon.  For more information call 607.280.2900 or visit thepositivejam.com.

The Hold Steady recently played Ithaca in your traditional underplay (a smaller than usual venue) – selling out Castaways (400) in advance.  Over a hundred were turned away at the door and this occurred in June without a student presence in town.  They spent the better part of June opening for Dave Matthews in arenas and sheds across the northeast.  The band is often described as a modern day Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – combining incredible lyrics, unmatched rhythm and perfect songwriting into a potent mix that has steadily rocketed their popularity to a fever pitch.  Since their first album in 2004, The Hold Steady has been making more and more noise in the rock and roll world. Dubbed numerous times “America’s best bar band”, as they say – you better grab your beer and get ready for that toast to St. Joe Strummer. Seeing them is like going to a party with all of your best friends you don’t even know yet. Craig Finn dances across the stage with his boyish grin and knowing stare, chanting his gospel gathered from bar talk. Franz Nicolay, the multi talented keyboardist who sports a killer moustache, is always dressed impeccably as he tickles his keys with joy. Tad Kubler strokes out classic guitar solos with every song. Galen Polivka thumps out the bass lines with a relaxed rock slouch while Bobby Drake does an excellent, and often underappreciated, job banging (camp) out the beat.

The Felice Brothers also sold out Castaways for their second straight time this past spring.  Their rootsy, backwoods Americana beat tears off the roof anywhere they play.  Hailing from the rich musical heritage of the Catskills and the town of Husdon, NY, the Felice Brothers bring the folk revival in the spirit of bands like the Avett Brothers and Ryan Adams and the Cardinals.  Last year was huge for the band. They released their brilliant self-titled record in March to wide acclaim after landing a record deal with Team Love records, owned by Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes. Turns out he liked them so much, he took them on tour with Bright Eyes as well! They played major festivals like Bonnaroo, All Points West, The Philadelphia Folk Festival, Mountain Jam, and the one and only Newport Folk Festival. Due to high winds and torrential rains, the power was cut off during the Newport festival. The band played unplugged for over an hour leading the enthralled crowd in sing-a-longs to favorites like “Frankie’s Gun” and Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” and dancing with them in the mud.

Hot off the recent release of their impressive second album, Born on Flag Day, Deer Tick are a tornado of tumbleweeds and desert howls. Led by the weathered voice of John Joseph McCauley III who toured as a solo act under the same name before gathering the band, Deer Tick have built their name with music primarily based in folk and country with a dash of grunge. McCauley’s voice is easily the most distinctive aspect of their sound,at times clear and brittle while maintaining undertones of healthy buzzing. Filling out the band are players Christopher Ryan, Dennis Ryan, and Andrew Tobiassen. They were featured on NBC Anchor Brian Williams’ inaugural music-only web feature “BriTunes” in May 2009 leading up to the album release. Garnering healthy buzz at this year’s SXSW Festival and recently selling out a two night stand at the Bowery Ballroom in New York, 2009 is the year of the Deer(tick).

A recent signing to Saddle Creek, The Rural Alberta Advantage are an exciting new talent. Rereleasing their debut album Hometowns on June 30, the Canadian trio earned quick and apt comparisons to Arcade Fire and even Neutral Milk Hotel. One of the best albums to listen to while walking, Hometowns has it all. From the simple, aching heart of “Don’t Haunt This Place” to the maximal, horn rocker “Luciana” to the melodic sorrow of “The Air”, Hometowns is an ode to loves won and lost woven around vivid pictures of the bridges, forests and trails of rural Alberta. After a long year of underground success, the band caught the ear of many at this year’s SXSW festival due to a stirring performance opening for Grizzly Bear in the Central Presbyterian Church. Led by Nils Edenloff’s songwriting,

The RAA is at it’s best when he sings a duet with Amy Cole who fills in keyboards and assorted persussion. Paul Banwatt provides some of the most inspired drumming of the year, giving the drums a voice in the overall melodic texture.