Ramfest - Well-oiled Music Festival for SA

Alistair Anderson

SA's Ramfest 2011 held last Saturday in Johannesburg was a well-organised, entertaining event.

Held at Riversands Farm in Fourways, it only filled up at about 4pm, even though it started at 12pm. But, many of the concert goers who did attend thoroughly enjoyed listening at least to US act Alkaline Trio and British band Funeral for a Friend.

Hundreds of people ran moshed and danced in "circle pits" while the aforementioned Welsh nutters Funeral for a Friend were rocking, and a few sang along to the 90s-college-band-like Alkaline Trio. Neither band preached that much about visiting SA, which was refreshing.

The local acts also put on solid performances. Relatively-junior metal band Knave pleased many of the metallers at the venue. Older Pestroy had a few people hurting their necks and Not My Dog, who have been quiet since the nu-metal music genre faded in SA, brought back pleasant memories. This band must be appreciated for becoming a part of the nu-metal style before it had developed in the US. They also performed some new tracks, which were solid but probably need a few more listens before many new fans join their base.

Unfortunately, many festival goers had left by the time SA shock performance band and headliner Die Antwoord had hit the stage. People seem to hate this band because of how crass and "apparently" short of talent they are. But other people rate their lyrics and style. I still enjoy their creativity. They are using the stage and props and whatever other gimmicks to entertain audiences, like few other local acts have. Not every musician needs to dance around in a children's Japanese Pokemon cartoon suit or blurt out the foulest possible South African slang to justify the entrance at the gate but Ninja does it, because it works.

Yo-Landi Visser - his cohort in depravity - also entertained a few observers with her naughty gyrations. If Lady GaGa can have young men asking why is this so alluring to me when it's so bizzare, why can't Yo-Landi?

I hope Ramfest 2012 is equally interesting.