WDJM hosts RamFest with four guest artists

Julien Fernandez / THE GATEPOST

By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor WDJM hosted RamFest on the McCarthy patio on April 22. It featured live music from the WDJM eBoard and four visiting artists. WDJM eBoard began RamFest by performing a couple of songs by The Cranberries - “Linger” and “Zombie.” The first visiting artist to perform was Watson Park, specifically Evan Ringle, who plays guitar and sings for the band. He said RamFest was wonderful. WDJM’s president, Alexis Schlesinger, was very responsive, and the event was well-coordinated. “It’s really a pleasure to come out and play music for some new people, and you know, play with such talented other artists,” Ringle said. He loves any opportunity to perform and play, he said. He and his bandmates adhere to a saying that “a gig is a gig is a gig.” They have played in bowling alleys and farm festivals, he added. College radio is important to smaller, independent artists, so he was especially excited to be invited by a student radio station, he said. Next up was Kinship, also known as Steve Kurz. He said RamFest was wonderful and he didn’t expect such a “beautiful, wide open space” for the event. “There’s a very nice springtime energy in the air,” he added. It was clear that Schlesinger cared a lot about the event, and he was excited by her enthusiasm, he said. He thanked Framingham and WDJM for inviting him. Next was Jesse Detor and her band. Everyone at RamFest was great, and it was nice to be outside on the beautiful day, she said. When Schlesinger asked if they wanted to play, they thought it would be cool, she said. Outside shows in the spring are always exciting, she added. After expressing how happy she was to be there, she promoted their latest release. “We just released an EP. It’s called ‘It Wasn’t Supposed To End Like This’ - it’s out on everything,” Detor said. Daisy Soper, the drummer for Detor’s band, said she had a great time. She grew up playing a lot of outdoor shows, so it felt nice to return to it. The event was well organized and everything sounded great, she added. She played a show in Framingham once in the past, but she barely remembers it, she said. Now she thinks Framingham is cool, she added. The bass guitarist who goes by Vitor isn’t in the band and was just filling in for this particular show, he said. He loved the event. “I think it’s so cool that you guys have a nice campus and you get to do outside things,” Vitor said. His campus, Berklee College of Music, isn’t as nice outdoors, he added. He thought it was nice to see people walking by and chilling on the lawn. The guitarist who goes by X also filled in for this performance. RamFest was fun, and it was nice to play outside and really breathe, X said. Lastly, MARIS performed. She said RamFest was fun, unexpected, and exciting. She and her drummer, Tiger, flew in from LA the day before, she said. Tiger has family nearby, so that helped the event work out. “And I love Alexis too. She reached out over email, and that was really sweet,” she said. Also, they’re going on tour in the fall, she added. “So, if you want to party and rage and have celebratory, joyful, beautiful space - that’s what we’re trying to create with our show,” she said. Schlesinger said she was really happy with how RamFest went. It was beautiful to see people stick around for most of the event. “Everyone who came to work here, and worked with me, and performed were so kind and so sweet, and it was just so rewarding to see so many people I look up to,” Schlesinger said. She described the event, and the visiting artists performing, as “one of the most amazing things I’ve ever put together in my life.” [ Editor’s Note: Alexis Schlesinger is a Photos & Design Editor for The Gatepost. ]