Few American cities have a history of music and culture on the same level as the city of New Orleans. That legacy looks safe to continue long into the future, in part thanks to the BUKU Music + Art Project. Since 2012, BUKU has held an annual two-day music and arts festival that brings together a diverse array of musical acts with all that is good about New Orleans, creating the kind of atmosphere that few musical festivals come close to replicating. It’s two days of non-stop entertainment and surprises, not to mention the best of local New Orleans cuisine. There are other festivals that are more famous and attract bigger acts, but the BUKU Music + Art Project combines artistic expression with the feel of a house party like no other.

Where Does BUKU Take Place?

Every year, BUKU Music + Art Project is held at Mardi Gras World, which sits on the banks of the Mississippi River not far from the famous French Quarter in New Orleans. The site is famous for being the place where Mardi Gras floats are constructed. At 300,000 square feet, it’s also the perfect venue for hosting parties, weddings, and music festivals.

A Sound for Everyone

It’s impossible to put the musical acts who perform at BUKU in a box. Throughout the history of the festival, organizers have done a great job of getting rock, hip-hop, and electronic dance music performers, not to mention artists from the rest of the musical spectrum. The festival has grown to the point of featuring over two dozen musical acts on each of the two days of the festival. Those performers can range from local New Orleans musicians to the likes of Lana Del Rey, Travis Scott, Nas, Ellie Goulding, A Day to Remember, Kendrick Lamar, and many others.

Don’t Forget the Art

It’s critical that everyone attending BUKU not forget about the art aspect of the festival. BUKU provides a platform for visual artists of all mediums, including graffiti, painting, and sculptures. A live graffiti gallery with artists creating in real-time in front of an audience is one of the artistic highlights of the festival. BUKU also creates an inviting environment for pop-up performers like break dancers and flow artists to display their talents. Unlike other festivals, BUKU makes sure that artists are on equal footing with musicians.