On The Radar – New Orleans BUKU Music and Art Project

BUKU Music and Art Project returns to New Orleans for the 10th edition on the banks of the Mississippi River later this month. Taking place in the shadow of a 100 year old power plant, the festival boasts industrial art installations mixed with traditional New Orleans subculture to create a “playground with an edge.”

buku new orleans

NYS Music will be covering the 2-day festival which takes place on March 25th and 26th. Headliners include Tame Impala (Friday) and Tyler, the Creator (Saturday) but the lineup also features a deep mix of underground and experimental bass, techno, rap, and hip-hop artists. Head over to the festival’s website for the full lineup and ticket information.

With a 2-day general admission ticket coming in at $120 before fees and a lineup full of up and coming artists, BUKU created a modern music festival focused on growing the underground music culture. Of course there are headliners and big names on the bill to grow the festival to a certain size, but even these artists fit the vibe of BUKU. A founding member of the underground rap group Odd Future, Tyler, the Creator has been on the cutting edge of rap with every bit of new music he releases, including his incredibly successful two album run of Igor and Call Me If You Get Lost. Tame Impala’s fresh take on classic 1960’s psychedelia inspired a massive new scene of Australian bands that are creating the best psych-rock in a generation. Every aspect of the 2022 BUKU lineup stays true to the mission of the festival.

BUKU has now released the daily schedules, creating some tough conflicts. Porter Robinson or Dom Dolla? Tame Impala or Liquid Stranger? Glass Animals or Maxo Kream? There are odd standouts on every festival lineup, and for BUKU 2022 it has to be Taking Back Sunday. We will certainly be front and center for their set, but the classic emo rock band from the early aughts certainly is the black sheep of the festival. In our experience however, these legacy bands with mid-day sets can sometimes draw the largest crowd and loudest sing-alongs of the weekend.

BUKU has also just announced the BUKU Late series of after parties taking place at various New Orleans venues. The night before the festival there is a kickoff party featuring GG Magree B2B Mija taking place at Republic NOLA. Friday night parties include Troyboi and Tokimonsta at Republic NOLA as well as a BUKU x Wakaan show headlined by Liquid Stranger at The Orpheum Theater. Saturday night has three options with Alison Wonderland (house set) at Republic NOLA, BUKU x BASSIK featuring Svdden Death B2B Sullivan King at Joy Theater, and a BUKU x Lab Group party featuring a “special closing Lab Group family B2B” at The Orpheum Theater. Tickets for all of the BUKU Late parties range from $25-$35 and are currently on presale for festival ticket holders.

buku new orleans

NYS Music photographer Joseph Buscarello will be down in New Orleans covering the festival. Stay tuned for our daily recap and artist photo galleries from BUKU.

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