Ready to rock at Ramfest
AS RAMFEST gets set to hit the West Coast next weekend, the organisers’ original vision of delivering the best alternative to mainstream monotony continues to pay dividends. Not only is this year’s line-up travelling the country, but the final Cape Town leg promises to deliver a combination of great international and local talent.
This year, the indie festival will be travelling to no fewer than five cities, building multiple stages in Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Durban, Joburg and the Mother City. Add an international bill that includes the US collective Awolnation, Sweden’s In Flames and Israel’s Infected Mushroom, and local acts Fokofpolisiekar, Taxi Violence, Sabretooth and The Narrow, and what’s certain is the West Coast Ostrich Ranch, near Philadelphia, off the N7, is going to hum come lunchtime next Sunday.
It is refreshing to see the organisers taking a leap of faith with lesser-known, up-and-coming acts PH Phat, Haezer and Newtown Knife Gang, all sure to add value to the liberal music pilgrimage.
“This one’s a big deal for us,” says Newtown Knife Gang’s lead singer, Spencer Martin, of his band’s inclusion. Made up of the better part of what was once 16Stitch, the core of the band took aim at enticing the former We Shall Embrace singer to join their new group. Now, a year later, the five have evolved into a powerful, energetic and particularly pleasing assembly.
“Our first rehearsal room was in Newtown, in the heart of Joburg’s CBD,” Martin says, explaining their group’s name. Newtown Knife Gang also see the countrywide crusade as an important step in getting their sound heard by as many fans as possible.
16Stitch headlined stadiums between 2003 and 2008, and in that time gained experience that’s serving the new group well now. “My addition has taken what the guys did before and turned the sound into something more personal and meaningful. People can relate to the music we’re making and I think that’s what gives it a competitive edge.”
Their debut single, aptly titled Listen, was released last June. Since then, Newtown Knife Gang have enjoyed good radio support that’s served them well in the build-up to their self-titled Electromodereleased debut disc which saw the light at the end of last year.
“The album is a smaller representation of what we intend being,” Martin says. “We’re writing new songs for the next album already and that’s testament to the professionalism and commitment we all share in taking our music places.”
It’s best to see the five-piece – Martin on vocals, Nick Argyros on drums, Paul Norwood and Warren Retief on guitars and Gareth Norwood on bass guitar – live, to appreciate what they’re capable of.
“It’s about generating as much energy as possible,” Martin says of their live set. “We’ll be picking up with the Cape Town crowd where we left off when we last played Mercury Live and Stellenbosch recently.”
The band is equally excited at the prospect of seeing some of their favourite local and international acts for the first time, never mind sharing a stage with some of the more progressive rock acts touring the world. “I’m a big In Flames fan,” Martin admits. “Getting the chance to play alongside them and Awolnation will be amazing.”
Tempering the barrage of guitar, bass and drums on the Red Heart main stage, Olmeca will be fuelling the electronic rostrum where Belgium’s Netsky, among others, will strut their looped and sampled stuff.
With Ramfest happening on the same day as the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, the event organisers are recommending that festivalgoers start out early, or camp overnight from the Saturday at the campsite set up to accommodate early birds. There is also a party bus leaving from the City Bowl, on the morning of the event for those wanting to imbibe, or simply choose to not get their cars dusty on the day. Appetising festival food from a dedicated market will also be on offer.
And, as the last stop of the fivecity campaign, Ramfest revellers can rest assured every one of the bands and artists on the bill will be pulling out all the stops as the curtain falls on a festival that’s now well and truly rooted and rocking in all the right places.
Tickets are R350. To book, see www.ticketbreak.co.za. For camping options and party bus from Cape Town, see www.ramfest.co.za