RAM on

Once we had safely transferred our beers from the fridge to the cooler bag we were all set. With tickets in hand we eagerly boarded our ride and, after a quick stop or two, found ourselves being ushered into a parking spot. It quickly became apparent that the organising for this event was a lot more thorough and thought out than previous parties I have been to at the same venue.

Let the journey commence!

Having settled, it was time to explore the venue. A beer was cracked and the journey commenced. We hit a wall. Drinks weren't allowed inside the stage area. After much scheming we decided that we would have to keep returning to the car to drink our beers and that smuggling them in would be frowned upon. We bartered barcoded pieces of paper for colourful armbands and went to check out the stages. The first act we saw was Dub Vader. I was impressed with the stage and the sound, but was taken aback by how terrible the MC performing alongside him was. Here was a prime example of why you should never tell your friends they sound good when they don't.

It was not yet noon, but the temperature was already soaring, so after scoping the stages it was back to the cars for much-needed sunscreen and more refreshments. As is the norm, with outdoor events and intoxicating substances, the day blurred past; some highlights being a freestyle motorbike display by the Monster guys, Hyphen cruising over our heads in his Explorer 200, the women (as I am a guy, and Cape Town is without a doubt home to the prettiest people in the world) and a lot of good music from local artists, such as Newtown Knife Gang, Hog Hoggidy Hogg, Niskerone and coupled with international drum-and-bass legend Netsky, and the talented MC Darrison.

Stellar Haezer set

Once the sun had started setting and the temperature was acceptable the party really began. I have always been a Haezer fan, so seeing him live was something I was really looking forward to. I was not disappointed, his set was stellar. Next was In Flames, not generally my cup of tea, but it would be rude to deny their talent. The main attraction for me was always going to be Infected Mushroom; I had managed to miss them on the few occasions that they have played in South Africa so I was looking forward to this experience.

For how long I'll never know, but I was transported back to the stage in my adolescence when I had just started listening to trance. I felt like that kid sitting in front of his 15-inch CRT zoning to the Winamp visualisations. They were an amazing all-round package and the performance a perfect climax to an outstanding event.

A big thank you has to go out to the organisers for putting it all together. You guys rock, or ram in this case!

Previously published on www.citylifer.co.za

Photography by Michael Ellis