Graphic inspired by 80s-90s Chicago house flyers designed by Kisira Hill
In a 90s kind of world, we’re glad we’ve got our girls! Slo ‘Mo & Good Girls are joining forces on a time jump to the golden era of 1990s Chicago club culture. Named “Shelter” after the legendary dance club located at 564 West Fulton from 1990-98, as well as Slo ‘Mo’s ongoing reputation as a space of refuge for queer people, this New Year’s Eve party aims to be the embodiment of belonging. DJs Lori Branch, Lady D & VITIGRRL bring their collective four decades of experience dominating the decks, amplifying an era of music when women at the front flourished. Slo ‘Mo matriarchs Party Mom Kristen and Your Godmutha Tristen are our hosts and hype queens, while Darling Shear and Angelica Grace are our go-go girls leading us into 2023 with a twirl. At Shelter, we are the congregation, music is our salvation and the dance floor is our sanctuary. Leave your worries at the door: You are home.
The girl group that has come together for one-night-only on New Year’s Eve ‘23 represents over four decades of Chicago nightlife culture. And so, we invite Children of the Night of all generations, gender expressions, races and experiences to unite under one universal groove. From the origins of house at The Warehouse to the world’s longest running house music party Boom Boom Room to today’s flourishing queer-fronted dance parties, Chicago has, and continues to be, the city with a sonic soul.
A limited number of $40 presale tickets are available to Slo ‘Mo family until they run out with the code SLOMOFAMILY. General admission tickets are $50 and include entrance to the event; drinks are available for purchase all night. Self-serve coat racks will be available. Booths in the main bar are available for reservation for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses as well as people who have just given birth or are pregnant. Lactating people can be given access to private space for pumping and refrigeration for milk storage. For any of these accommodations or others not covered, email slomoparty@gmail.com. We will do as much as within our power to support your health and wellness needs. Tickets go on sale Monday, November 28 at 2PM CST.
Please recognize your are electing to enter a space with alcohol, flash photography, video recording, fog machines, dark corners, loud spaces and tight dance floors. Proof of vaccination OR a negative rapid test result within 24 hours or PCR test within 72 hours is required to attend. Masks are available upon request and hand sanitizer is available throughout the venue. Slo ‘Mo and Sleeping Village are committed to keeping capacity within legal limits to further ensure the comfort and safety of our guests.
ABOUT THE DJs:
Widely considered house music’s first female house DJ, Lori Branch caught the bug as a teenager attending parties at The Warehouse and has been at work in the DJ booth since 1980 when she formed her own collective called Vertigo. Now in her fifth decade of her career, Lori continues to perform, educate and inspire, including as one of three members of the Good Girls DJ collective. This is Lori’s second special guest appearance at Slo ‘Mo, coming off the heels of our Suited and Booted Pride Ball in June.
Called “Chicago’s house music queen” by Chicago magazine, Lady D has been energizing dance floors since the 1990s. A member of the first female-fronted DJ girl group Superjane, celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, and as the owner of D'lectable Music, a premiere house music label and marketing group, Lady D continues to be a force of inspiration. She returns to the Slo ‘Mo stage after iconic moments from our party timeline including NYE 2016, and 2017’s “Queer the Pier” at Navy Pier.
Slo ‘Mo’s own VITIGRRL rounds out Good Girls, working alongside Lori and Lady D to bring house music into the next generation. A proud Chicagoan – and student of electronic music – sound is at the center of VITIGRRL’s life and she uses it to make people feel alive. VITIGRRL has been the resident DJ of Slo ‘Mo since 2020.