Brought together by the power of bass, fans of electronic, indie and hip-hop music crowded into Mardi Gras World this weekend for the fourth annual BUKU Music + Art Project.
Festival-goers from near and far made their way to New Orleans for the sold-out, two-day festival that featured both crowd favorites and lesser known artists.
Day one treated fans to performances by artists such as A$AP Rocky, Empire of the Sun, and Die Antwoord, but every stage had something to offer anyone willing to make the rounds.
Die Antwoord closed out the Float Den stage around 1 a.m. after a performance complete with music videos and strobe lights. Roughly 15 minutes into its set, the group disappeared and the stage went black, leaving the packed crowd full of suspense. The South African duo made its return to an excited audience decked out in American flag jumpsuits.
Before Die Antwoord hit the stage, there was a long list of performers who captivated audiences just as well. The Ballroom stage hosted rappers Run the Jewels and Boosie Badazz, who both drew a decent crowd.
BUKU’s Back Alley stage held its own with a local-heavy lineup featuring artists such as Suicideyear and Musa.
Between sets, it was the street performers who held the audience’s attention. Light-up hula hoops were an especially popular trend, and every stage had a group of performers entertaining all day long. During STS9’s Power Plant set, the BUKU Breakers took turns showing off their break dancing skills in the middle of the crowd.
The street performers weren’t the only alternative option to the festival’s music scene.
Those in attendance had the chance to peruse local vendors’ booths for a variety of custom jewelry and clothing. BUKU’s “Front Yard” offered everything from novelty items to local food vendors, like Dat Dog.
As the sun set along the river, BUKU’s art wall came to life as many artists were diligently working on their graffiti masterpieces while the illuminated works had individuals stopping for a quick picture on their way to a show. These artists begin working on their murals at the beginning of the festival, which went up for auction during the two-day stint.
Day two of BUKU featured popular artists across the board, many drawing relatively large and energetic crowds. Power Plant’s headliners were TV On The Radio, Passion Pit and Bassnectar. Passion Pit’s frontman, Michael Angelakos, said it had been too long since the band visited New Orleans and he was glad to be back. While Passion Pit’s turnout was large, Bassnectar’s was even more impressive.
DJ and producer Lorin Ashton, who goes by the stage name “Bassnectar,” took the stage around 9:45 p.m. By this time, the crowd was full of bass fans both young and old. Ashton commanded the crowd with the beat and light show. Even artists who had performed earlier in the day made their way to the Power Plant stage to witness the show.
Once again, Back Alley featured several local artists, such as SFAM, Klutch, Hyphee and Carneyval. Their crowds didn’t compare to that of other stages, but they made a point to interact with the fans in attendance.
Back in the Ballroom, “BasedGod” chants broke out while the crowd anxiously waited for Lil B’s set. Lil B came out dancing, unable to contain his excitement to finally be performing in New Orleans. Hudson Mohawke followed and played some of his lesser-known material, as well as “Chimes,” the song popularized by Apple’s Macbook Air “Stickers” commercial.
The Ballroom sets came to an end with G-Eazy’s midnight performance. Those who weren’t a fan of G-Eazy headed over to Porter Robinson’s set in the Float Den.
Robinson also had a midnight set and managed to fill the room as well. He thanked his audience and proceeded with a performance complete with a changing video backdrop and coordinated lighting. Fans were too busy dancing and jumping in sync to the music, as was true for most of the festival.
You can reach Greta Jines on Twitter @TheGretaJines.

Gallery • 11 Photos

Ronni Bourgeois

G Eazy performs on day two of BUKU Music + Art Festival at the Ballroom Stage.