Event

RAM from Haiti at Tropicalia

RAM, the mythical band at DC's premier global dancehall Tropicalia

RAM is a legendary band of Haitian roots and voodoo rock music, that was first established in the 90s and whos fame goes well beyond Haitian borders. The band formed by Richard and Lunise Morse incorporates instruments from traditional Haitian music, such as drum, cornet and graj as well as rock music instruments (guitar, bass, drums, keyboard). Their concerts held every Thursday at the hotel Oloffson has become a must for the nightlife lovers and curious tourists.

RAM is a drum-roots-driven powerhouse band from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Ancient folkloric polyrhythms intertwine harmoniously with Punk Rock guitar riffs and swinging Caribbean keyboard melodies, led by the entrancing singer, Lunise, all combine for a truly magical experience on Thursdays at Hotel Oloffson in Port-au-Prince, Haiti where RAM has consistently gigged for the last 25 years.

The band derives its name from the initials of its founder, songwriter, and lead male vocalist, Richard A. Morse. The bands music has been described by Morse as Vodou rock n roots, and has been one of the prominent bands in the mizik rasin musical movement in Haiti. RAM began performing together in 1990, and recorded their first album in 1996. The bands music incorporates traditional Vodou lyrics and instruments, such as rara horns and petro drums, into modern rock and roll. The bands songs include lyrics in Haitian Creole, French, and English.

Rasin is a musical style that began in Haiti in the 1970s when musicians began combining elements of traditional Haitian Vodou ceremonial and folkloric music with rock and roll. This style of modern music reaching back to the roots of Vodou tradition came to be called mizik rasin (roots music) in Haitian Creole or musique racine in French. In context, the movement is often referred to simply as rasin or racine.

$18 advance / $20 at the door
Doors 8PM
Showtime: 9PM