RAMFest

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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]
Website ramfest.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.

Contents

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. It is to be noted that 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. Rise Against at RAMFest 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa.jpg
Rise Against live in Johannesburg, South Africa as part of RAMFest 2013.
Taxi Violence live in Johannesburg, South Africa as part of RAMFest 2014. Taxi Violence live at RAMfest 2014.jpg
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 9 2007, 2008, 2009 [1] [8] [9]
The Awakening 2007, 2008 [1] [8]
aKING 2008, 2009 [8] [9]
Die Antwoord 2009, 2011 [9] [11]
Foto na Dans 2009 [9]
Van Coke Kartel 2009, 2011, 2013 [9] [11] [18]
Isochronous 2009, 2011 [9] [11]
Pendulum 2010, 2013 [10] [19] [25]
Jack Parow 2010, 2013, 2023 [10] [19]
The Narrow 2010, 2012 [10] [18]
Boo! 2010 [10]
Johnny Foreigner 2010 [10]
Die Heuwels Fantasties 2010 [10]
Alkaline Trio 2011 [11] [26]
Funeral for a Friend 2011 [11] [26]
Zebra and Giraffe 2011 [11]
Awolnation 2012 [18] [24]
In Flames 2012 [18] [24] [27]
Infected Mushroom 2012 [18] [24] [28]
Netsky 2012 [18] [24]
BEAST 2013 [29]
Man As Machine 2013, 2014 [30] [31]
Rise Against 2013 [19] [25] [32]
Bring Me the Horizon 2013 [25]
Taxi Violence 2014 [33]
Biffy Clyro 2014 [34]
Trivium 2014 [20]
Foals 2014 [34]
Killswitch Engage 2014 [20]
Camo & Krooked featuring Dynamite MC 2014 [20]
Junkyard Lipstick 2014 [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

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References

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