The Flaming Lips
The BUKU Music + Art Project, presented by Winter Circle Productions and HUKA Entertainment and MCP Presents, is back for its third year and scheduled for March 21-22, bordering the Mississippi River and outside the beautiful French Quarter in the heart of New Orleans, Mardi Gras World. In 2012 the spring festival featured acts such as Skrillex, Avicii, Wiz Khalifa, Diplo and others. Last year, Kid Cudi, STS9, Calvin Harris, Major Lazer, Alt-J and other popular artists and DJs hit the stages with late night performances by Diplo and others.
The two-day festival has a lot to live up to this year, as it brings to the stage The Flaming Lips, Ellie Goulding, Lotus, Nas, Chromeo, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Beats Antique and many others. Late-night after-parties (Buku X Bassik, Buku Mad Decent, Buku LuckyMe, Buku Disko and more) feature Doctor P, Cookie Monsta, Carnage, Paper Diamond, Baauer, Zeds Dead and more at New Orleans’s venues Republic and Howlin’ Wolf.
Nas
This year festivalgoers can enjoy delicious, healthy and diverse food from local vendors Beaucoup Juice & Grill, Bratz Y’all, City Greens, Woody’s Fish Tacos, Efe’s Greek Food and many others. Attendees can dance until the early morning at the festival’s four main stages: Power Plant, located next to the active New Orleans Public Belt Railroad in the run-down Market Street Power Plant district; The Float Den, a Mardi Gras float manufacturing warehouse; the Ball Room, a large concert hall; and a new venue this year, the Back Alley, hosting “underground dance parties” overlooking the Mississippi River. Two-day VIP ticket holders and TOO BUKU VIP package holders can enjoy the festival on the S.S. BLU-KU, a “3-level New Orleans-style riverboat” planted on the edge of the Mississippi River alongside the festival grounds. Exclusive VIP performances include a special collaboration with The Gaslamp Killer & Friends feat Pres Hall Brass + Khris Royal, DJ sets by Holy Ghost!, Miami Horror, Big Freedia’s ‘Twerk Lesson’, the BU-Katwalk and BU-Kookoff cooking challenge.
“Models” walking down the runway at the BUKatwalk this year had the chance to submit their greatest BUKU-inspired fashion ideas via social media prior to the festival. This interactive and competitive fashion show kicks off on the VIP S.S. BLU-KU Friday night to the sounds of Dobryman while showcasing designs by fans as well as some of the most popular local fashion designers; catwalk winners have the the chance for either two VIP upgrades for this year or two general-admission weekend passes for next year’s BUKU. This year’s BUKU participants can also participate in BUKookoff, a cooking challenge featuring Buku-inspired dishes, Saturday at the Grand Oaks Mansion for Too Buku VIP patrons, artists, “Buku Buddy” guests and media whom will all vote on the dishes. Participants had the opportunity prior to the festival to post the name of their Buku-inspired dishes on social media; the winner of this contest will also receive their choice of either two VIP upgrades for the rest of the day or two general-admission weekend passes for next year’s BUKU.
This year, The BUKrewe also offered guests the chance to get involved with helping build a home for a family as the crew teamed up with the award-winning non-profit St. Bernard Project, whose mission is to help provide a home for those whose lives were forever changed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers will be presented with a limited edition poster at the merchandise table inside the festival.
For tickets to BUKU Music + Art Project (1380 Port of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA), volunteer information or other inquiries, visit thebukuproject.com, facebook.com/BUKUproject or contact info@thebukuproject.com.
