RAMFest
Music festival nameRAMFest
LocationCape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.
Years active2007–present[1][2]
FoundersDawid Fourie[3][4]
DatesAnnually in February/March
GenreVarious alternative genres including metal, rock, punk, hardcore, drum and bass, electronic
Websiteramfest.co.za

RAMFest is[5] a music festival that took place a couple of times in South African cities. RAMFest caters to electronic and rock music, that offers local acts as well.

Background

RAMFest was started by Dawid Fourie[4] in 2007 in Worcester, Western Cape, South Africa featuring 20 local talents.[1] Since then RAMFest has grown to multiple South African cities[6] and was one of the largest music festivals in the country.[7] The "RAM" in RAMFest stands for Real Alternative Music according to Fourie,[4] thus making the full name of the festival the Real Alternative Music Festival.

Previous editions

  • 2007 – Twisted Playground (2 – 3 March) in Cape Town only.[1]
  • 2008 – Beyond Boundaries (29 February – 2 March) in Cape Town only.[8]
  • 2009 – Nekkies (27 February – 1 March) in Cape Town only.[9]
  • 2010 – The Real Alternative Music Festival (26–28 February; 6 March) in Cape Town and Johannesburg respectively.[10]
  • 2011 – RAMFest (4–5 March; 9 March; 12 March) in Cape Town,[11] Durban[12] and Johannesburg[13] respectively.
  • 2012 – A Day of Thunder (2 March; 3 March; 9 March; 10 March; 11 March) in Port Elizabeth,[14] Bloemfontein,[15] Durban,[16] Johannesburg[17] and Cape Town[18] respectively.
  • 2013 – Red Heart Rum presents: RAMFest (7–10 March; 8 March; 15 March; 15 March; 15–16 March) in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Durban (again) and Johannesburg respectively. The first Durban show was for electronic acts while the second was for rock and metal acts.[19]
  • 2014 - Red Heart Rum presents: RAMFest (6–9 March) in Cape Town and Johannesburg.[20]
  • 2019 - Halloween presents: RAMFest (16 June) in Pretoria.[21]
  • 2020 - Standard Bank presents: RAMFest (13 March) in Cape Town, RAMFest (14 March) in Pretoria.[22]
  • 2023 - RAMfest (1 September) in Cape Town, RAMfest (2 September) in Pretoria.[23]

Performers

The following table lists the notable artists that have performed at RAMFest.

ArtistYear PerformedReferences
Fokofpolisiekar2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 | [1][9][10][18][24]
Battery 92007, 2008, 2009[1][8][9]
The Awakening2007, 2008[1][8]
aKING2008, 2009[8][9]
Die Antwoord2009, 2011[9][11]
Foto na Dans2009[9]
Van Coke Kartel2009, 2011, 2013[9][11][18]
Isochronous2009, 2011[9][11]
Pendulum2010, 2013[10][19][25]
Jack Parow2010, 2013, 2023[10][19]
The Narrow2010, 2012[10][18]
Boo!2010[10]
Johnny Foreigner2010[10]
Die Heuwels Fantasties2010[10]
Alkaline Trio2011[11][26]
Funeral for a Friend2011[11][26]
Zebra and Giraffe2011[11]
Awolnation2012[18][24]
In Flames2012[18][24][27]
Infected Mushroom2012[18][24][28]
Netsky2012[18][24]
BEAST2013[29]
Man As Machine2013, 2014[30][31]
Rise Against2013[19][25][32]
Bring Me the Horizon2013[25]
Taxi Violence2014[33]
Biffy Clyro2014[34]
Trivium2014[20]
Foals2014[34]
Killswitch Engage2014[20]
Camo & Krooked featuring Dynamite MC2014[20]
Junkyard Lipstick2014[20]
Atilla2019[21]
The Black Dahlia Murder2020[22]
Enter Shikari2023[35]
The Ocean Collective2023[36]

Controversies

In 2012, a chain mail was circulated, implying that RAMFest had a Satanic involvement. As a result, RAMFest had trouble organising another venue for the Bloemfontein leg of the fest[37] and it was cancelled there due to pressure from religious groups.[38]

In December 2012, the metalcore band As I Lay Dying pulled out from the RAMFest 2013 line-up due to being double booked to support The Devil Wears Prada on their tour.[39][40] The Devil Wears Prada's tour dates conflicted with RAMFest 2013's dates, making it impossible for As I Lay Dying to have performed at Ramfest 2013.[41]

During Bring Me the Horizon's set at the Johannesburg leg of the festival for 2013, tear gas was thrown into the crowd which caused fans to cough and tear up.[42]

RAMFest announced that the 2015 edition of the festival was cancelled, citing the lack of suitable acts for the line up as the reason for its cancellation.[2]

RAMFest announced that the 2016 edition will not feature any international acts, and cancelled the festival.

See also

References

  1. ^ Worcester, South Africa. "Ramfest 2007 | Ramfest 2007 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  2. ^ "RAMFEST 2015 CANCELLED". Boringcapetownchick.com. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  3. ^ Therese Owen (20 February 2013). "Ready to go wild at raucous RAMfest – What's On | Tonight". Independent Online. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  4. ^ "Dawid Fourie, the man behind RAMfest!". SA Music Scene. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  5. ^ "RAMfest is back, announce Attila as their headliner for 3-date tour in June 2019". Texx and the City. 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  6. ^ "Ramfest 2013". Ramfest.co.za. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  7. ^ "RAMfest South Africa 2013". SA Music Scene. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  8. ^ "Ramfest 2008 | Ramfest 2008 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  9. ^ "Ramfest 2009 | Ramfest 2009 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  10. ^ "Ramfest 2010 | Ramfest 2010 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  11. ^ "Ramfest 2011 | Ramfest 2011 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  12. ^ Durban, South Africa (9 March 2011). "Ramfest 2011 | Ramfest 2011 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  13. ^ Johannesburg, South Africa (12 March 2011). "Ramfest 2011 | Ramfest 2011 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  14. ^ Port Elizabeth, South Africa (2 March 2012). "Ramfest 2012 | Ramfest 2012 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  15. ^ Bloemfontein, South Africa (3 March 2012). "Ramfest 2012 | Ramfest 2012 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  16. ^ Durban, South Africa (9 March 2012). "Ramfest 2012 | Ramfest 2012 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  17. ^ Johannesburg, South Africa (10 March 2012). "Ramfest 2012 | Ramfest 2012 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  18. ^ Cape Town, South Africa (11 March 2012). "Ramfest 2012 | Ramfest 2012 Line-up and Posters". Songkick. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  19. ^ "Ramfest 2013 line-up". Bizcommunity.com. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  20. ^ "云浮卜呛影视文化发展公司". Garycool.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  21. ^ "In Review: RAMfest reborn". Texx and the City. 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  22. ^ "RAMFEST 2020 announce the full lineup including headliners The Black Dahlia Murder – Plug Music Agency". www.plugmusicagency.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  23. ^ Mag, L. W. (2023-07-05). "RAMFEST 2023 – Full Line-Up Announced". LW Mag. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  24. ^ "RAMfest 2012: Line-Ups and Details". MusicReview. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  25. ^ "RAMfest 2013". LW Mag. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  26. ^ "RAMfest Headliners: Alkaline Trio and Funeral For A Friend in South Africa". MusicReview. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  27. ^ "In Flames To Play RAMfest 2012". MusicReview. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  28. ^ "Infected Mushroom to Play RAMfest 2012". MusicReview. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  29. ^ "Roland SA - SA Music Scene". Samusicscene.co.za. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  30. ^ "RAMfest 2013: Extremely loud and incredibly close". Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  31. ^ "Ramfest Johannesburg 2014 Lineup | Ramfest". Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  32. ^ "Rise Against to headline RAMfest 2013". TimesLIVE. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  33. ^ "Taxi Violence Setlist at RAMfest Johannesburg 2014". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  34. ^ "Ramfest gives rain the boot | eNCA". Enca.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  35. ^ "Enter Shikari chat their RAMfest setlist, writing new music and setbacks of the pandemic". Texx and the City. 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  36. ^ Clayton, Duzzy (2023-07-04). "South Africa's RAMFEST Announce 2023 Headliners Enter:Shikari and The Ocean". Fanbase Music Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  37. ^ Burger, Karin (20 February 2012). "Pray for satanic rock fest RAMfest". Channel24. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  38. ^ Welsyn, Willim (27 November 2012). "RAMfest Cancels Bloem Because of Religious Pressure Groups – Rolling Stone South Africa". Rollingstone.co.za. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  39. ^ "As I Lay Dying PR Apology Re: Ramfest 13". Boring Cape Town Chick. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  40. ^ "News - AS I LAY DYING Cancel Appearance at Next Year's RAMFest Due To Scheduling Conflict". Bravewords.com. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  41. ^ "The Devil Wears Prada + As I Lay Dying Join Forces for 2013 Marathon Metalcore Tour". Loudwire.com. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  42. ^ "RAMfest 2013: Report Card". Muse Online. 22 February 1999. Retrieved 2013-03-19.