RAMFest

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Wikipedia

RAMFest
GenreVarious alternative genres including metal, rock, punk, hardcore, drum and bass, electronic
DatesAnnually in February/March
Location(s)Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.
Years active2007–present[1][2]
FoundersDawid Fourie[3][4]
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

Rise Against live in Johannesburg, South Africa as part of RAMFest 2013.
Taxi Violence live in Johannesburg, South Africa as part of RAMFest 2014.

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

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