About
Slo ‘Mo began when founder and event producer Kristen Kaza longed for a space with a sensual vibe for queer women & friends to connect.
Thus, Slo ‘Mo: Slow Jams for Queer Fam was born in 2011 at famed cocktail bar The Whister, when founding resident DJ Tess (2011-2016) would spin vinyl all night, and establish Slo ‘Mo’s iconic sound that endures today, lifting up R&B, funk, house & disco from the 70s to now.
Slo ‘Mo at the Whistler continued every third Thursday from 2011 until the pandemic in 2020, featuring hundreds of rotating DJs including resident DJs Audio Jack (2015-2020) and VITIGRRL (2020-present) carrying the sonic mission. In 2018, Slo ‘Mo launched the daytime spin off Old Gold featuring all-vinyl sets and an intergenerational mission, which continues today with surprise pop ups.
In addition to the parties, Slo ‘Mo has produced over 200 events in its 10+ tenure.
With a focus on live music and performance, Slo ‘Mo has produced numerous shows at venues across Chicago, most recently 2021’s “Divas Through the Decades” at Millennium Park, an 18-piece band performance of over 25 women-powered classics from the 70s to today. Other memorable events have included the long-running Queer Comedy Night, Slow Jams Yoga, Slomotel NYE, the exhibition Lost & Found: Exploring Dyke Spaces of the 70s & 80s, and many more.
As its impact on Chicago has grown, Slo ‘Mo has worked in collaboration with collectives, institutions and brands including the The City of Chicago, Millennium Park, Howard Brown Health, HBO, Navy Pier, Nike, Museum of Contemporary Art, Steppenwolf Theater, Reunion Chicago, OTV, Metro/SmartBar, Sleeping Village, The Promontory, Thalia Hall, the Chicago Reader, AMFM, Soho House and many more.
It has been the recipient of numerous awards including being voted “Best LGBTQ Dance Party” in the Chicago Reader Best of Chicago poll for its inclusive and intergenerational appeal.
Slo ‘Mo has endured for over a decade, through a pandemic and numerous hurdles in the nightlife industry, as a queer women & femme centered and prioritized space & sound.
All Slo ‘Mo events feature and employ majority women and gender expansive, LGBTQ+ & BIPOC artists, vendors and small businesses. Slo ‘Mo approaches space making through a lens of care and compassion, always working to grow as a place where folks across the community spectrum can feel celebrated and seen.