Here at Compose Yourself Mag, we’ve had the epic pleasure of covering BUKU Music + Art Project for the last two years, and are excited to be making our way back next month with The Saucy Monster! So to hype you all even more, we decided to put together a few tips we feel are oh so necessary to complete the BUKU experience. You’ll be soaking up that New Orleans sun soon enough, so in the meantime, prep yourselves with guidance from our seasoned BUKrewe!
DO NOT get TooBuku on the VIP S.S. BUKU open bar
To party in NoLa properly you’ve got to pace yourself, and this can be difficult when you’ve got a VIP open bar lingering in front of you all weekend. We’ll admit that photo booths are a tad more fun when you’re sloshed, but drinking in moderation is not only the sensible and healthy choice, but it also increases your chances of making it out to the after parties. You’re in New Orleans, so you better party like it – catching the late night sets downtown is essential, and believe us when we say you’ll be partying till the sun comes up.
DO bring comfortable shoes
We know how important festie fashion can be, but if we’ve learned anything from the past few years at BUKU, it’s that a good pair of shoes are needed! Mardi Gras World is 75% cement, and there wasn’t very much seating to go around besides Fort BUKU. Luckily, you don’t really need breaks when you’ve got rad artists performing back to back. We’re crossing our fingers for more lounge zones this year, but it’s always best to come prepared, right?
DO splurge on BUKU merch!
You can’t walk ten feet without seeing a crew of friends sporting some of the rad BUKU designs the festival offers, and it’s easy to see why. Teaming up with artists like Young & Sick and others for their designs, it’s no wonder everyone is eager to splurge on merch. From leggings and tanks to snap-backs and jerseys, you’ll be dripping in love for your favorite festival in whichever way you’d like.
DO plan on spending all of your money on incredible food
The food at BUKU is reasonably priced as far as festivals go, so if you’re a seasoned music lover then you already know how much to budget for. But what sets the BUKU food vendors apart from others is that they serve up the most authentic and delicious food we’ve had the pleasure of enjoying at a festival! Whether you make time outside of the fest to indulge your inner foodie or not, gorging on crawfish etouffee and jambalaya bowls more than made up for it last year. There’s a reason they boast about their BUKUisine, and you’re well on your way to finding out why.
DO NOT skip out on experiencing the Back Alley
Our BUKU experience could not have been completed without the hidden oasis known as the Back Alley. Boasting the most artistic and creative set-up of the festival, we ended up spending a majority of our time boogyin’ at what will quickly become your new favorite stage. Spotlighted by the Crescent City Connection in the background, we highly encourage you to let the Back Alley’s seductive city charm swoon you. Says Production Design Director Chris Berends, “The Back Alley will always embody the forgotten industry of New Orleans; sandwiched between the bridge, the power plant, freight rail, and a working river, we pull from those forgotten elements to find the most interesting design possible. Using IBC standard equipment has always been the goal, whether it’s shipping containers (Fort Buku), Oil Drums (Bukove), Portable Totes (Back Alley) or shipping pallets, we always try to bring the industrial setting into our design.” The lineup for Back Alley is mostly stacked with House producers, so even if you don’t consider yourself a fan of the genre, there’s a fact that can’t be denied – the biggest dance parties happen in the Back Alley, and if you’re smart, you won’t miss them for the world.
