RAMFEST PORT ELIZABETH

Friday 15 March, Old Grey, Port Elizabeth:
Pendulum DJ set & Verse, Das Kapital, Guns ‘N Lazers and many more.

Last year the RAMfest organisers extended their national reach to include the Friendly City and brought PE audiences a taste of RAMfest magic. This year we do the same, as we bring you a DJ line-up set to blow you clean out of the water.

Olmeca Tequila and Audiomatik Events presents international DJ sensation Pendulum DJ Set & Verse (Australia and England), an official sideshow of RAMfest 2013. Add to that a stellar SA line up including Das Kapital, Guns ‘N Lazers, DJ Kenichi, Le Prezident, Dane Mitchell, Down By Law, Downlowd Crew & more and you are in for a night to remember!

David Mann: Fast rising rock band City of Heroes have had nothing but success lately leading to them playing at Ramfest for the first time this year, but not before stopping off to do a show in Grahamstown this Saturday.

With the release of their album ‘The Great Unknown’, the four piece theatrical rock outfit from Pretoria have been climbing the musical ladder in leaps and bounds. Considering that they have only been around since early 2010, this shows just how fast they are making their mark.

MELISSA PARSONS: Quirky Canadian twins, Tegan and Sara, take audiences back to the 80s with their seventh studio album Heartthrob. The lyrical content of the album comes together a bit like the diary entries of a naïve heartbroken teenager. The twins have nevertheless produced a unique indie-pop listening experience that will grow on you after the first listen.

Heartthrob lacks vocal intensity and it feels like neither girl wanted to outshine the other. The bite-sized 37-minute album is a compilation of stereotypical love songs backed by keyboard melodies that leave the listener craving a decent guitar riff or at least a solid bass line. The album is an easy listen if you aren’t focusing on the depressing lyrics.

David Mann: This past Thursday saw many enthusiastic Rhodents losing their minds on the dance floor as electro percussion band Napalma took the stage at The Monastery.

Activate caught up with vocalist and backup percussionist of Napalma, Ivo Maia, to get a better look at the band that Grahamstown has come to love so much.

So first off, how was the show?
The show was amazing, I believe that Grahamstown is one of the spots that we have a good crowd, who are always ready to come and dance and to support our music.

Marike Watson: What you missed at Rodríguez

On Saturday evening Sixto Díaz Rodríguez kicked off his South African tour at the GrandWest Arena. The 70 year old Detroit musician, better known as ‘Sugar Man’, performs a genre I would call a combination of folk and alternative or psychedelic rock.

HEIN PAPENFUS:  Jack Parow is a South African legend already. Can you even go to the bottle store without being mobbed?

Ja f**k, it’s a bit crazy hey. Luckily, I get boxes of booze delivered to my house so it’s fine [laughs]. No, I’m joking. Ja, I can still go. It’s fun sometimes, even if you’re irritated. It’s like when people come up and ask you for photos it’s a cool f**king vibe because you know people like you, and at least I know people like my music.

Now that your braaisous is on the shelves, when can we expect other Jack Parow merchandise like toys and jewellery?
Well, the toys and the jewellery, we made all of it, we’ve just got to f**king build it and stuff and get it f**king out in the shop. But it’s there, I’ve just been so f**king busy making music and stuff because obviously, that’s still my number-one thing I focus on. But hopefully this year sometime.

DANIELLE PETTERSON: The UP Beats Festival has been moved from February to March this year.

“This decision was agreed on [so] as to accommodate all students and not bombard students with all the activities happening within the first few weeks of varsity and all other activities,” said Tuks RAG Chairperson Phatludi Modiba.

MELISSA PARSONS: Every first year needs a list of events that cannot be missed. Time management is a key element when it comes to planning your social year, so choose wisely. Whether you can’t wait to bathe in the sweet dust of Oppikoppi or mosh it out at RAMfest, here’s where to be in 2013.