BUKU Music + Art Project , or BUKU, equally information technology is nearly widely known, turns viii this year as artists, organizers, promoters, musicians, and approximately 35,000 guests ready for the 2-day immersive event. Founded in 2012 by Winter Circle Productions and focusing on EDM, hip hop, and indie stone music, BUKU has solidified itself as a fixture of New Orleans' festival flavour while retaining the same magic listeners would feel if they were at a house prove.

Photo: Katie Sikora

Sights

I accept attended BUKU for the last few years equally a journalist with a critical eye and fifty-fifty though I wished all the youthful attendees would accept dressed properly for the atmospheric condition, the festival left me pleasantly surprised. With past performers like MGMT, Lana del Rey, GriZ, Toro y Moi, Nas, Alt-J, Major Lazer, Flosstradamus, Sleigh Bells, and dozens of others, the musical lineup is ever the near talked about aspect of BUKU.

However, in a globe with too many music festivals to count, information technology is the less obvious features of the festival that make information technology unique. Walking onto the festival grounds is akin to entering an outdoor museum defended to neon colors and bright lights. Last year'southward festival grounds included a glowing water belfry, a massive rainbow BUKU sign affixed in a higher place the VIP edifice, and massive low-cal-upwards cube construction for the hippies to lounge around. The festival grounds were expanded for the first time last twelvemonth which included more interactive fine art displays like the popular giant hammock strung between multiple (and multi-storied) shipping containers and a glowing LED tree for people to sit beneath.

Hosted every year at Mardi Gras World, the floats we sentry ringlet through New Orleans every Carnival flavor get the properties for the weekend (come across them in the Float Den) and that's only the offset. BUKU organizers take strived to bring together music lovers by providing installments for local visual artists, food vendors, and street performers throughout the fest.

Just a brusque walk from the archway gate to the furthest stage, I took notation of the two-story graffiti wall sectioned off for each invited artist to create an original piece while festival-goers watched on, a adult female in a bikini strolling through the grounds with multiple Hula hoops spinning around her, and a pop-upwards suspension dancing contest. This year, keep your eyes peeled for my personal favorite artists Monica Kelly, Hugo Gyrl, Art by Jay, Ceaux, and Fat Kids.

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DojaCat at BUKU (Photo: Katie Sikora)

Performers

Beginning on Fri, you can take hold of $uicideBoy$, 100 Gecs, Alison Wonderland, Lick, Bouffant Bouffant, Channel Tres, Charli XCX, Chris Lake, Artifakts, DJ Heelturn, Flatbush Zombies, Flume, Glass Animals, Goldlink, Go Pink, I_O, J. Worra, Lucky Daye, Malik Ninety V, Mhadi K, Mr. Carmack, OHSO, Raise The Death Toll, Roddy Ricch, Space Jesus, Stone Cold Jzzle, The Trifinity, Treety, Troyboi, TSHA, Young M.A., and the almighty Taking Back Sunday shut out Day One.

Local acts similar Trombone Shorty Academy and The Iceman Special join the fray likewise as LLEAUNA, an original member of the New Orleans founded Techno Club collective and whose night interpretation of that techno sounds mixes with her Natchez, Miss. roots to evoke the sounds of the Deep South. Catch Trax Only, another locally based DJ commonage known for their all-dark raves, that take created inclusive and safe spaces for the southern queer underground.

If you simply have a ane-day pass and so fret not, Saturday is simply every bit jam-packed with performers Ari Lennox, Cashemere Cat, Clozee, Dance Gavin Trip the light fantastic toe, Dom Dolla, Dominic Fike, Don Toliver, Eli & Fur, Gramatik, Illenium, JPEGMAFIA, Kaash Paige, Kaytranada, Kota The Friend, LSDream, Lucii, Legan Thee Stallion, P-Tab, Pluko, Pussy Riot, Run The Jewels, Subtronics,Turnstile, TVBOO, Upbeat University, Zeds Dead, Video Age, and (drumroll please!) Tyler, The Creator.

But again, it'south the local acts that I go most excited for. This includes Tristan Dufrene, who can be seen DJ-ing all over town and describes her music as a "kaleidoscope of consciousness" that helps her blend and push the boundaries of house and techno music, and Lil Jodeci, the founder of Pink Room Projection, a DIY music collective aimed at furthering the trajectory of local musicians onto the global level – who brings his mixture of Chicago house, Detroit techno, and New Orleans bounce and hip hop.

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BUKU takes place March 20 and 21, 2020. (Photograph: Katie Sikora)

Insider'due south Tips

BUKU is an ADA accessible and a rain or smoothen event. Be sure to check the official website for a consummate list of prohibited items (attendees are searched at the archway). There is first-class local food and booze within the festival grounds.

The festival grounds are located adjacent to the Mississippi River with very few shaded areas. It does get hot during the twenty-four hour period and common cold when the lord's day goes down, so stay hydrated. Bring an empty h2o canteen with y'all to fill up at various h2o stations on site, and something warm to throw on at nighttime.

BUKU'southward Safe Infinite Policy emphasizes their inclusive values and clearly communicates them equally follows: "Acceptance, compassion, encouragement, and love is what the BUKREWE stands for. Let's stand together to proceed each other safe to political party in freedom." They brand it clear that they do not tolerate whatsoever form of bigotry, sexual harassment, racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, or any other form of discrimination or hatred. And we are here for it.

BUKU Music + Fine art Projection takes place on March 20 and 21 at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans. Tickets beginning at $110 for One-Day General Admission and $205 for Ii-Day Full general Admission.