BUKU 2022

Buku Music + Art Project is one of New Orleans’ largest music festivals. The name comes from the French word “beaucoup,” which means “plenty.” The festival includes live music, local art, New Orleans food, and more. It is held each year at Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras world along the Mississippi Riverfront.

The festival has a house-party atmosphere, with EDM, hip-hop, and indie rock music offerings. In the past, the event had over 50 musical acts, including Avicii, Ellie Goulding, Wiz Khailfa, Major Lazer, Kid Cudi, Zeds Dead, and Skrillex over the Friday-Saturday event for ages 18 and up. The music spans four stages, which are along the riverfront, inside Mardi Gras world, and in the Antebellum-style ballroom.

Buku also offers art demonstrations including a live graffiti gallery, sculpture races and other interactive projects of local artists. There is also an arts and crafts village with plenty of interesting wares.Buku also offers a wide variety of food choices with a bit of an experimental edge. Food vendors offer a variety of choices, including “womelettes” (a waffle-omelet combination), fish tacos, barbecue specialties, vegetarian specialties, crepes and New Orleans-style sno-balls (flavored, shaved ice in a plastic cup).

Festival organizers offer an array of ticket packages including single-day tickets, two-day passes and VIP passes. VIP passes typically include a weekend pass to the festival, access to the Creole Queen river boat parked nearby on the river with an open bar, main stage viewing area and VIP-only performances. In the past, there has also been “TOO BUKU” VIP passes, which offer your group’s own private section, wait service for drinks and food, and access to the TOO BUKU massage parlor, in addition to the other perks of VIP passes.

Every year so far the festival has sold out of all tickets and packages. For more information about Buku Music + Arts Project visit the official website.