RAMFest

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title: "RAMFest" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rock-festivals-in-south-africa", "electronic-music-festivals-in-south-africa", "festivals-in-cape-town", "festivals-in-johannesburg", "festivals-in-durban"] description: "South African music festival" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAMFest" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary South African music festival ::

| music_festival_name = RAMFest | location = Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. | years_active = 2007–present | founders = Dawid Fourie | dates = Annually in February/March | genre = Various alternative genres including metal, rock, punk, hardcore, drum and bass, electronic | website =

RAMFest is 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 and was one of the largest music festivals in the country. 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. :* 2009 – Nekkies (27 February – 1 March) in Cape Town only. :*2010 – The Real Alternative Music Festival (26–28 February; 6 March) in Cape Town and Johannesburg respectively. :*2011 – RAMFest (4–5 March; 9 March; 12 March) in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg respectively. :*2012 – A Day of Thunder (2 March; 3 March; 9 March; 10 March; 11 March) in Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town 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. :*2014 - Red Heart Rum presents: RAMFest (6–9 March) in Cape Town and Johannesburg. :*2019 - Halloween presents: RAMFest (16 June) in Pretoria. :*2020 - Standard Bank presents: RAMFest (13 March) in Cape Town, RAMFest (14 March) in Pretoria. :*2023 - RAMfest (1 September) in Cape Town, RAMfest (2 September) in Pretoria.

Performers

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Rise_Against_at_RAMFest_2013_in_Johannesburg,_South_Africa.jpg" caption="Rise Against live in Johannesburg, South Africa as part of RAMFest 2013."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Taxi_Violence_live_at_RAMfest_2014.jpg" caption="Taxi Violence live in Johannesburg, South Africa as part of RAMFest 2014."] ::

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

::data[format=table]

Artist	Year Performed	References
Fokofpolisiekar	2007, 2009, 2010, 2012
Battery 9	2007, 2008, 2009
The Awakening	2007, 2008
aKING	2008, 2009
Die Antwoord	2009, 2011
Foto na Dans	2009
Van Coke Kartel	2009, 2011, 2013
Isochronous	2009, 2011
Pendulum	2010, 2013
Jack Parow	2010, 2013, 2023
The Narrow	2010, 2012
Boo!	2010
Johnny Foreigner	2010
Die Heuwels Fantasties	2010
Alkaline Trio	2011	url=http://www.musicreview.co.za/2011/01/17/ramfest-headliners-alkaline-trio-and-funeral-for-a-friend-in-south-africa/
Funeral for a Friend	2011
Zebra and Giraffe	2011
Awolnation	2012
In Flames	2012	url=http://www.musicreview.co.za/2011/10/27/in-flames-to-play-ramfest-2012/
Infected Mushroom	2012	url=http://www.musicreview.co.za/2011/12/07/infected-mushroom-to-play-ramfest-2012/
Netsky	2012
BEAST	2013	url=http://samusicscene.co.za/roland-sa/
Man As Machine	2013, 2014	url=http://www.perdeby.co.za/sections/entertainment/2769-56ramfest-2013-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close
Rise Against	2013	url=http://lwmag.co.za/ramfest-2013-2
Bring Me the Horizon	2013
Taxi Violence	2014	url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/taxi-violence/2014/witfontein-bronkhorstspruit-south-africa-6bc28eb2.html
Biffy Clyro	2014	url=https://www.enca.com/life/ramfest-gives-rain-boot
Trivium	2014
Foals	2014
Killswitch Engage	2014
Camo & Krooked featuring Dynamite MC	2014
Junkyard Lipstick	2014
Atilla	2019
The Black Dahlia Murder	2020
Enter Shikari	2023
The Ocean Collective	2023
::

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 and it was cancelled there due to pressure from religious groups.

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. 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.

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.

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.

References

References

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

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