NEW ORLEANS, LA – The BUKU Music + Art Project today announced the first round of performers for the festival taking place on March 22 and 23, 2019. Now in its eighth year, the two-day event will return to Mardi Gras World in New Orleans after a sold out 2018 event. A portion of ticket proceeds support the Upbeat Academy Foundation, a non-profit organization providing New Orleans youth with opportunities to study hip-hop and dance music production.
Artists announced on the 2019 lineup are: Lana Del Rey in what is her only currently-announced U.S. performance; hip-hop and fashion icon A$AP Rocky; the return and 2019 debut of Skrillex and Boys Noize’s collaboration Dog Blood; bass music torchbearer Excision; Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates in his first New Orleans play since 2016; a live performance by GRiZ who just released the first two tracks off of his upcoming 2019 album; RL Grime; Louis The Child; breakout R&B star Ella Mai; hometown horrorcore rap heroes $UICIDEBOY$; a rare back-to-back set from NGHTMRE B2B Slander; the first New Orleans play for Playboi Carti; emo mainstays Dashboard Confessional and Mayday Parade; Toro Y Moi who will release a new album in January; Claude VonStroke; Gunna; Fisher; the first New Orleans play for The Black Madonna; Death Grips; a unique set from Getter performing his critically-acclaimed new album Visceral; Ekali; Yaeji; Denzel Curry; a rare joint set from J.I.D and EARTHGANG; G Jones; Liquid Stranger; TOKiMONSTA; internet sensations Oliver Tree and Doja Cat; 1788-L; jam band Papadosio; Peekaboo; Roy Blair; a special set from We Came As Romans in memory of Kyle Pavone; a DJ set from Matt + Travis of From First To Last; Rico Nasty; Dounia; Kidswaste; Whipped Cream; Mersiv; sfam. VIP patrons will be treated to VIP-Only performances from: CharlesTheFirst; Dabin; Duskus; Jantsen; Kittens; Noizu; Xie; and AF THE NAYSAYER who is one of Upbeat Academy’s lead artist instructors.
The 2019 event will also feature a strong showing of local flavor with over a dozen New Orleans’ artists and showcases: bàwldy B2B Boarcrok; Dohm Collective; Freewater; James Seville; Klutch; Lil Jodeci; Lleauna; Malik Ninety Five; Thou; TRAX ONLY; Tristan Dufrene; Trombone Shorty Academy; Unicorn Fukr; and Upbeat Academy. Complementing the music acts will be the following graffiti artists and live painters participating in a Live Art Gallery: Art by Jay; Ceaux; Dvote; Fat Kids; Hugo Gyrl; Ink; J Hand Paints; Jedi; Knowla; Lipkis; Monica Kelly; Murky; Painter; PAWS; READ MF BOOKS; and Swan.
Inspired by the creative subculture of New Orleans, BUKU sits at the crosshairs of underground warehouse party and major urban music festival by fusing a progressive and diverse musical lineup with live street art, one-of-a-kind industrial art installations, local food vendors, and dozens of surprise “pop-up” performances. The 2018 BUKU Music + Art Project featured an expanded festival site that sold out with a daily attendance of over 17,500 guests, making it the highest attended BUKU to date. New additions included the Wharf Stage adjacent to the Mississippi River, a relocated main stage across the train tracks with the Market Street Power Plant serving as its backdrop, several new art installations, and an all new BUKU VIP Rooftop overlooking the main stage.
Tickets for the 2019 event will go on-sale Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 10AM CT and include a variety of options for general and VIP admission as well as travel packages. VIP ticketing provides a host of special amenities that include exclusive VIP-only performances, premium viewing areas, as well as an open bar for guests 21+. When purchasing tickets, patrons should be mindful that BUKU is a 17+ event. More information on tickets offerings and pricing can be found at http://bit.ly/BUKU2019Tickets.
About Winter Circle Productions:
Winter Circle Productions began in 2009 as an independent promotion and production house to attract music that its founders felt was missing from a post-Katrina New Orleans. Creator of BUKU Music + Art Project and four-time recipient of the OffBeat Best Promoter Award, WCP is now celebrating its 10th year anniversary as one of the most trusted tastemakers on the Gulf Coast, having produced thousands of shows across many musical genres in dozens of venues. In July 2015, WCP joined AEG Presents to form and run its new Gulf Coast regional office, and in August 2017, took over a lease at the 1,200 capacity Joy Theater in New Orleans. In addition to concert production, the members of WCP founded the Upbeat Academy Foundation, a non-profit organization providing New Orleans youth with opportunities to study hip-hop and dance music production. www.wintercircleproductions.com
About AEG Presents:
AEG Presents, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance. AEG Presents is comprised of touring, festival, broadcast, merchandise and special event divisions, seventeen regional offices, and owns, operates or exclusively books thirty-five state-of-the-art venues. The current and recent concert tour roster includes artists such as Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, Bon Jovi, Carrie Underwood, Cher, Daughtry, Enrique Iglesias, J Cole, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Kenny Chesney, Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, The WHO, Trey Songz and Juanes. The company is also currently producing residency shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas including Celine Dion, Rod Stewart and Shania Twain and is the exclusive promoter at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. AEG Live is also the largest producer of music festivals in North America from the critically acclaimed Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival to the Stagecoach Country Music Festival and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. www.aegpresents.com
