RAMFest
{{Short description|South African music festival}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{ infobox music festival
| music_festival_name = RAMFest
| location = Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.
| years_active = 2007–present{{cite web|author=Worcester, South Africa |url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/6509566-ramfest-2007 |title=Ramfest 2007 | Ramfest 2007 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |accessdate=2013-03-05}}{{cite web|url=http://boringcapetownchick.com/2014/12/ramfest-2015-cancelled/|title=RAMFEST 2015 CANCELLED|website=Boringcapetownchick.com|access-date=2021-12-01}}
| founders = Dawid Fourie{{cite web|author=Therese Owen |url=http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/what-s-on/gauteng/ready-to-go-wild-at-raucous-ramfest-1.1473490#.UTUFKqKBm2E |title=Ready to go wild at raucous RAMfest – What's On | Tonight |work=Independent Online|location=South Africa |date=20 February 2013 |accessdate=2013-03-05}}{{cite web|url=http://samusicscene.co.za/?p=210 |title=Dawid Fourie, the man behind RAMfest! |publisher=SA Music Scene |date=18 February 2013 |accessdate=2013-03-05}}
| dates = Annually in February/March
| genre = Various alternative genres including metal, rock, punk, hardcore, drum and bass, electronic
| website = {{URL|ramfest.co.za}}
}}
RAMFest is{{Cite web |date=2019-04-16 |title=RAMfest is back, announce Attila as their headliner for 3-date tour in June 2019 |url=https://texxandthecity.com/2019/04/ramfest-is-back-announce-attila-as-their-headliner-for-3-date-tour-in-june-2019/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Texx and the City |language=en-US}} 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 in 2007 in Worcester, Western Cape, South Africa featuring 20 local talents. Since then RAMFest has grown to multiple South African cities{{cite web|url=http://www.ramfest.co.za/ |title=Ramfest 2013 |publisher=Ramfest.co.za |accessdate=2013-03-05}} and was one of the largest music festivals in the country.{{cite web|url=http://samusicscene.co.za/?p=132 |title=RAMfest South Africa 2013 |publisher=SA Music Scene |date=21 January 2013 |accessdate=2013-03-05}} The "RAM" in RAMFest stands for Real Alternative Music according to Fourie, 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.
:* 2008 – Beyond Boundaries (29 February – 2 March) in Cape Town only.{{cite web|url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/3810866-ramfest-2008 |title=Ramfest 2008 | Ramfest 2008 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |accessdate=2013-03-05}}
:* 2009 – Nekkies (27 February – 1 March) in Cape Town only.{{cite web|url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/3810821-ramfest-2009 |title=Ramfest 2009 | Ramfest 2009 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |accessdate=2013-03-05}}
:*2010 – The Real Alternative Music Festival (26–28 February; 6 March) in Cape Town and Johannesburg respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/3810841-ramfest-2010 |title=Ramfest 2010 | Ramfest 2010 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |accessdate=2013-03-05}}
:*2011 – RAMFest (4–5 March; 9 March; 12 March) in Cape Town,{{cite web|url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/7361676-ramfest-2011 |title=Ramfest 2011 | Ramfest 2011 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |accessdate=2013-03-05}} Durban{{cite web|author=Durban, South Africa |url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/7361681-ramfest-2011 |title=Ramfest 2011 | Ramfest 2011 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |date=9 March 2011 |accessdate=2013-03-05}} and Johannesburg{{cite web|author=Johannesburg, South Africa |url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/7361686-ramfest-2011 |title=Ramfest 2011 | Ramfest 2011 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |date=12 March 2011 |accessdate=2013-03-05}} respectively.
:*2012 – A Day of Thunder (2 March; 3 March; 9 March; 10 March; 11 March) in Port Elizabeth,{{cite web|author=Port Elizabeth, South Africa |url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/12021223-ramfest-2012 |title=Ramfest 2012 | Ramfest 2012 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |date=2 March 2012 |accessdate=2013-03-05}} Bloemfontein,{{cite web|author=Bloemfontein, South Africa |url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/12021208-ramfest-2012 |title=Ramfest 2012 | Ramfest 2012 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |date=3 March 2012 |accessdate=2013-03-05}} Durban,{{cite web|author=Durban, South Africa |url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/12021198-ramfest-2012 |title=Ramfest 2012 | Ramfest 2012 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |date=9 March 2012 |accessdate=2013-03-05}} Johannesburg{{cite web|author=Johannesburg, South Africa |url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/10817988-ramfest-2012 |title=Ramfest 2012 | Ramfest 2012 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |date=10 March 2012 |accessdate=2013-03-05}} and Cape Town{{cite web|author=Cape Town, South Africa |url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/44346-ramfest/id/10817983-ramfest-2012 |title=Ramfest 2012 | Ramfest 2012 Line-up and Posters |publisher=Songkick |date=11 March 2012 |accessdate=2013-03-05}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/429/88021.html |title=Ramfest 2013 line-up |publisher=Bizcommunity.com |date=21 January 2013 |accessdate=2013-03-05}}
:*2014 - Red Heart Rum presents: RAMFest (6–9 March) in Cape Town and Johannesburg.{{Cite web|url=http://www.garycool.com/2013/09/recap-of-ramfest-2014-announcements/|title=云浮卜呛影视文化发展公司|website=Garycool.com|access-date=1 December 2021}}
:*2019 - Halloween presents: RAMFest (16 June) in Pretoria.{{Cite web |date=2019-06-19 |title=In Review: RAMfest reborn |url=https://texxandthecity.com/2019/06/in-review-ramfest-reborn/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Texx and the City |language=en-US}}
:*2020 - Standard Bank presents: RAMFest (13 March) in Cape Town, RAMFest (14 March) in Pretoria.{{Cite web |title=RAMFEST 2020 announce the full lineup including headliners The Black Dahlia Murder – Plug Music Agency |url=https://www.plugmusicagency.com/ramfest-2020-announce-the-full-lineup-including-headliners-the-black-dahlia-murder/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.plugmusicagency.com}}
:*2023 - RAMfest (1 September) in Cape Town, RAMfest (2 September) in Pretoria.{{Cite web |last=Mag |first=L. W. |date=2023-07-05 |title=RAMFEST 2023 – Full Line-Up Announced |url=https://lwmag.co.za/ramfest-2023-full-line-up-announced |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=LW Mag |language=en-US}}
Performers
File:Rise Against at RAMFest 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa.jpg
File:Taxi Violence live at RAMfest 2014.jpg
The following table lists the notable artists that have performed at RAMFest.
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{{cite web|last=Burger |first=Karin |url=http://www.channel24.co.za/Music/News/Pray-for-satanic-rock-fest-RAMfest-20120220 |title=Pray for satanic rock fest RAMfest |publisher=Channel24 |date=20 February 2012 |accessdate=2013-03-19}} and it was cancelled there due to pressure from religious groups.{{cite web|last=Welsyn |first=Willim |url=http://www.rollingstone.co.za/musicrev/item/1837-ramfest-cancels-bloem-because-of-religious-pressure-groups |title=RAMfest Cancels Bloem Because of Religious Pressure Groups – Rolling Stone South Africa |publisher=Rollingstone.co.za |date=27 November 2012 |accessdate=2013-03-19}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://boringcapetownchick.com/2012/12/20/ramfest-13-band-pulls-out/ |title=As I Lay Dying PR Apology Re: Ramfest 13 |publisher=Boring Cape Town Chick |date=20 December 2012 |accessdate=2013-03-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/195752 |title= News - AS I LAY DYING Cancel Appearance at Next Year's RAMFest Due To Scheduling Conflict |website=Bravewords.com |accessdate=2013-03-19}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/the-devil-wears-prada-as-i-lay-dying-2013-marathon-metalcore-tour/ |title=The Devil Wears Prada + As I Lay Dying Join Forces for 2013 Marathon Metalcore Tour |website=Loudwire.com |date=18 December 2012 |accessdate=2013-03-19}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://museonline.co.za/featured/ramfest-2013-report-card/ |title=RAMfest 2013: Report Card |publisher=Muse Online |date=22 February 1999 |accessdate=2013-03-19}}
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.
RAMFest announced that the 2016 edition will not feature any international acts, and cancelled the festival.