BUKU Music + Art Project

BUKU Music + Art Project is a New Orleans based two-day music and arts festival founded in 2012 by Winter Circle Productions and held annually at Mardi Gras World.[1][2] BUKU considers itself to be a boutique event that delivers a big festival punch without compromising its house-party vibe. BUKU seeks to serve as a platform for the intersection of pop culture and the New Orleans underground arts community, and combines international musicians with local food vendors, local visual artists, and various surprise pop-up street performers throughout the site. BUKU's musical tastes have been a relatively even mix of electronic dance music, hip hop music, and indie rock featuring past performances by Bassnectar, Lana Del Rey, Kid Cudi, Migos, MGMT, Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, Illenium, Nas, Excision, Major Lazer, Alt-J, TV on the Radio, A Day to Remember, REZZ, Flosstradamus, deadmau5, Kendrick Lamar, Porter Robinson, Pretty Lights, RL Grime, Seth Troxler, Future, Ellie Goulding and dozens of others.[3][4][5]

BUKU Music + Art Project
Power Plant Stage at BUKU 2019
GenreElectronic dance music, Hip hop, Indie rock
DatesMarch 19–20, 2021
Location(s)New Orleans, LA
Years active2012-Present
WebsiteOfficial Website

Location and Stages
Aerial Shot of BUKU 2019

The festival is held on the New Orleans riverfront at Mardi Gras World, within walking distance of the Warehouse District and the famed French Quarter. BUKU's unique stages include the Power Plant (outside along the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad with the spooky Market Street Power Plant as the backdrop), the Ballroom (a concert hall with wrap around balcony viewing), the Back Alley (tucked away with the feel of a secret riverside dance party), which was replaced by the Wharf Stage in 2018, and the Float Den (one of the leading Mardi Gras float production houses).[1][4] Being on the Mississippi River allows BUKU fans incredible views of the Crescent City Connection bridge while boats and barges roll along the river.[6] The Creole Queen riverboat (2012-2017) docked next to the festival, acting as the VIP-only S.S. BUKU for the weekend, with an open bar, special performances and a viewing area of the main stage from the boat's top deck.[4]

In 2018, the festival doubled the size of its site space outside Mardi Gras World and increased its capacity to another 3,000 people each day, totaling 35,000 across its two-day event.[7] This site expansion allowed BUKU to move the Power Plant Stage across the train tracks for even more space, including the new TOO BUKU Rooftop providing VIP ticket holders a perfect view of the main stage. The Wharf Stage, which replaced the Back Alley Stage, is located next to the Mississippi River where the Power Plant Stage used to be. Another big change was the departure of the river boat and the addition of the new VIP Stage, located at the VIP grove near the main stage.

In 2020, BUKU announced more changes to the site and an increased capacity of 25,000 people per day. The 2020 stages include the Port (renamed main stage), The Stacks (located directly in front of the Market Street Power Plant), a new space for the Float Den, Ballroom and The Wharf.[8]

Artwork
BUKU Billboard at the 2019 Festival

In addition to the musical performances, BUKU features installations by prevalent local and national artists.[6] Sculptures, paintings, graffiti, and other mediums are all included, including the annual live graffiti gallery, the pieces of which are created in real time during the festival's two days and auctioned off to fans to raise money for charity.[2] Past live graffiti gallery artists include Hugo Gyrl, Ceaux, DVOTE, Fat Kids, READ, KNOWLA, MEEK, Monica Kelly, Swan, Uter and more.

Other notable art pieces featured at BUKU include the Live Graffiti Gallery, Fort BUKU, L-System Tree, Water Tower, The Beacon and more. Art installations at BUKU are typically fabricated from recycled industrial materials such as IBC totes, pipes and shipping containers.

Furthermore, BUKU curates a program of surprise pop-up performers and revelers ranging from break dancers, bounce dancers, circus troupe performers, flow artists, mobile DJ carts and more.

BUKU also focuses on an all illustrated branding approach conceptualized by Los Angeles-based music and art enigma Young & Sick, who also made his debut festival performance on the Float Den stage at BUKU in 2014. In 2019, the festival rebranded under the direction of electronic music producer and designer Paper Diamond.

Charity

In 2013, BUKU announced its charitable partner Upbeat Academy, an after-school music education program for New Orleans middle- and high school students with a focus on hiphop and dance music production and performance. Upbeat is free to attend for all student-artists and is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Every year, a portion of every ticket sold to BUKU Music + Art Project benefits the program. Additionally, student artists and Upbeat Alumni also perform at the festival.

Lineup

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020
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