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. 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.
In August 2022, BUKU organizers announced an indefinite hiatus and the cancellation of their 2023 festival.
Location and stages
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 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 (intended to have "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). Being on the Mississippi River affords views of the Crescent City Connection bridge while boats and barges roll along the river. 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.
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. 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.
Artwork
In addition to the musical performances, BUKU features installations by prevalent local and national artists. 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. Past live graffiti gallery artists include Hugo Gyrl, Ceaux, DVOTE, Fat Kids, READ, KNOWLA, MEEK, Monica Kelly, Swan, Uter and more.
Other art installations at BUKU included the Live Graffiti Gallery, Fort BUKU, and the L-System Tree. Art installations at BUKU are sometimes fabricated from recycled industrial materials such as IBC totes, pipes and shipping containers.
BUKU also curates a program of pop-up performers and revelers ranging from break dancers, bounce dancers, circus troupe performers, flow artists and mobile DJ carts.
BUKU also focuses on an all illustrated branding approach conceptualized by Los Angeles-based musician and artist 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,https://www.upbeatacademy.org/ 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
March 17, 2012 Avicii Wiz Khalifa Diplo Holy Fuck Mord Fustang Pictureplane Gramatik Yelle (DJ) Rockie Fresh Wolfgang Gartner (Afterparty)
March 18, 2012 Skrillex YelaWolf A-Trak Big K.R.I.T. Big Gigantic SBTRKT Purity Ring Sepalcure G-Eazy Figure
2013
March 8, 2013 Kid Cudi Primus 3D Kendrick Lamar Flux Pavilion Zedd Best Coast Sander Van Doorn Flying Lotus Datsik Japandroids R3hab Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Birdy Nam Nam Earl Sweatshirt Lettuce Aeroplane Shlohmo St. Lucia JMSN Poolside
March 9, 2013 Calvin Harris Passion Pit STS9 NERO Major Lazer Big Gigantic Dillon Francis Alt-J Starfucker Trinidad James Flosstradamus Icona Pop RAC Action Bronson Dragonette Daedelus Big Freedia Hundred Waters Ryan Hemsworth
2014
March 21, 2014 Ellie Goulding Kaskade Zedd Nas Zeds Dead Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Sleigh Bells Pusha T Chance the Rapper Carnage Seth Troxler Wavves Lotus Miami Horror Dusky Conspirator Classixx Smallpools Big Freedia Treasure Fingers Tourist Blood Diamonds Kid Kamillion Gravity A Flight School Preps Jesse Slayter DXXXY Murder Beach
March 22, 2014 The Flaming Lips David Guetta Chromeo Explosions In The Sky Tyler, The Creator The Glitch Mob Bauuer B2B RL Grime Schoolboy Q Beats Antique Phantogram Danny Brown Skream Griz DJ Snake Clockwork The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart Soul Clap Dan Deacon Thundercat Generationals Cashmere Cat Blue Sky Black Death Young & Sick Unicorn Fukr Big History Javier Drada Shanook Bent Denim Mr. Miserable Free Will B
2015
March 13, 2015 A$AP Rocky Empire of the Sun Die Antwoord Flosstradamus STS9 Portugal. The Man RL Grime Boosie Badazz Run The Jewels Gramatik Jamie Jones Zomboy Claude VonStroke Yung Lean Thomas Jack Robert Delong Mr. Carmack Bob Moses Big Freedia Slow Magic Mija Pell Suicideyear Boyfriend Musa Herb Christopher B2B Ryan Deffes ChrisCross
March 14, 2015 Bassnectar Passion Pit TV on the Radio Porter Robinson (Live) G-Eazy Odesza Borgore Lil B Hudson Mohawke BadBadNotGood & Ghostface Killah xxyyxx ILoveMakonnen Zella Day DJ Windows 98 (Win Butler of Arcade Fire) Justin Martin B2B Eats Everything Raury Slander In the Valley Below Benoit & Sergio Goldlink The Range Hermitude Bixel Boys Devon Baldwin Sweet Crude Gravity A (Plays Talking Heads) Carneyval Hyphee Klutch SFAM
2016
March 11, 2016 Kid Cudi Chvrches Above & Beyond Fetty Wap Griz Crystal Castles Deorro Rae Sremmurd Baauer Tchami Art Department Mystikal B2B Juvenile B2B Fly Boy Keno Post Malone Mija B2B Anna Lunoe Anderson Paak & The Free Nationals Jai Wolf Tokimonsta J.Phlip B2B Kill Frenzy Break Science Thugfucker G Jones Oneman B2B My Nu Leng DJ Soul Sister Donovan Wolfington Tristan Dufrene KTRL
VIP Sweater Beats Illenium The Funk Hunters Vibe Street DJ Matt Scott
March 12, 2016 Pretty Lights (Live Band) Future Miike Snow Nero Purity Ring Datsik A$AP Ferg Yellow Claw Feed Me What So Not Cashmere Cat B2B Trippy Turtle Earl Sweatshirt Børns Kehlani Sam Feldt Claptone Lee Foss NGHTMRE Julio Bashmore SNBRN Casey Veggies Givers Le Youth CRWNS Fro-Yo Ma Sunsabetchez
VIP Autograf Louis The Child DRAM Prince Fox Kidd Love
2017
March 10, 2017 Travis Scott GRiZMATIK Zeds Dead Young Thug Jauz Sleigh Bells Lil Dicky TroyBoi Lil Yachty Slushii Thundercat Lido Car Seat Headrest Clams Casino Big Wild Shiba San B2B Justin Jay San Holo Opiou K?D Sophie Nora En Pure Kaiydo Whethan Unicorn Fukr Musa B2B Otto Roar! LLEAUNA
VIP Ekali Andrew Luce Chet Porter Nebbra Shallou
March 11, 2017 Deadmau5 Run The Jewels Tycho ZHU 21 Savage Vince Staples Nina Kraviz Washed Out Cashmere Cat Malaa Alina Baraz Ghastly B2B Herobust The Floozies REZZ Suicideboys Aminé Lane 8 Minnesota B2B Space Jesus M.A.N.D.Y. Oshi Ambré Af The Naysayer Caddywhompus Boogie T. SFAM
VIP Ganja White Night Hosh Pan Stélouse Pusher DJ Soul Sister
2018
March 9, 2018 Migos SZA MGMT Virtual Self (U.S. Fest Debut) A Day to Remember Alison Wonderland Snails Flatbush Zombies Ganha White Night B2B Boogie T Bonobo (DJ) Mura Masa Green Velvet Bishop Briggs Rich the Kid x Famous Dex Lil Xan Falling in Reverse Soulection Sango B2B ESTA B2B The Whooligan Honey Dijon Homeshake Spag Heddy Clozee Walker + Royce The Russ Liquid Test New Thousand Nice Rack B2B Rusty Lazer Bouffant Bouffant
VIP (Presented by Space Yacht) Eprom B2B Mad Zach Droeloe BlackGummy Squnto Tvboo
March 10, 2018 Bassnectar Lil Uzi Vert Illenium (Live) Isaiah Rashad REZZ Borgore Sylvan Esso Little Dragon Jay Electronica Snakehips Gryffin Jai Wolf Ski Mask the Slump God NoName Hippie Sabatage Smino Princess Nokia Elohim Jade Cicada Emo Nite LA Nnamdi Ogbonnaya Zach Villere AF the Nayslayer x Yung Vul KTRL B2B Red Barrington KiddLove
VIP (Presented by Brownies + Lemonade) Graves Medasin Melvv Ducky Suicide Year
2019
March 22, 2019 Lana Del Rey Excision Kevin Gates RL Grime Nghtmre B2B Slander (DJs) Playboi Carti Claude VonStroke Fisher (musician) Mayday Parade Toro y Moi Death Grips Denzel Curry Ekali Tokimonsta Kero Kero Bonito 1788-L Rico Nasty From First To Last (DJ Set) (Matt + Travis) Yves Tumor Kidswaste SunSquabi Whipped Cream Dounia Mason Maynard sfam
Reppin' New Orleans Bawldy B2B BOARCROK Freewater The Iceman Special Klutch Lleauna Trax Only Trombone Shorty Academy
VIP CharlestheFirst Dabin Noizu AF the Naysayer
March 23, 2019 A$AP Rocky Dog Blood GRiZ Louis the Child (DJs) Ella Mai Suicideboys Dashboard Confessional Gunna (rapper) The Black Madonna Earl Sweatshirt J.I.D Getter (DJ) (presents Visceral) Yaeji G Jones Liquid Stranger Oliver Tree Kasbo Peekaboo (musician) Papadosio Earthgang Roy Blair Doja Cat We Came As Romans Mersiv
Reppin' New Orleans Dohm Collective Freewater James Seville Lil Jodeci Malik Ninety Five Thou Tristen Dufrene Unicorn Fukr Upbeat Academy
VIP Duskus Jantsen Kittens Xie
2020 Canceled due to Covid
2021 Canceled due to Covid
2022
March 25, 2022 Tame Impala Porter Robinson Trippie Redd Taking Back Sunday 100 gecs A Hundred Drums $uicideboy$ Rezz Troyboi Rob49 Fousheé Liquid Stranger Clozee Bas Lango Lab Group Wreckno Tierra Whack Shygirl Dom Dolla John Summit J. Worra Lady Lavender Tristan Durfene Tatyanna XL 504IcyGirl Choke Hole
March 25, 202 Tyler, the Creator Glass Animals Alison Wonderland Flo Milli Teezo Touchdown Glbl Wrmng Kali Uchis Baby Keem Vince Staples Neno Calvin Kennyhoopla Lane 8 Svdden Death Sullivan King Mersiv Tvboo sfam Amelie Lens Farrago Maxo Kream TSHA Stone Cold Jizzle Moore Kimset Tsu Nami New Thousand Ncognita Treety Guwap Dashh Antwigadee! Legatron Prime Odd the Artist
See also List of electronic music festivals
References
External links