With a focus on elevating local LGBTQ+ artists & entrepreneurs, No Small Plans Productions and their signature party "Slo 'Mo: Slow Jams for Queer Fam" present numerous programs for Pride season designed to be intergenerational and intersectional:
Sunday, May 27, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Metro/smartbar All-Building Party
In Metro: Slo 'Mo Party & Futurehood Present: I Am Elle, featuring: JD Samson, Audio Jack, Mister Wallace, Hijo Prodigo, Cae Monae, produced by Kristen Kaza with performance interventions by Brendan Fernandes.
In smartbar: Queen! IML Edition, Parris Mitchell, Michael Serafini, Garrett David plus hosts Lucy Stoole, Jojo Baby, Nico, Ivory, Debbie Fox, Ryan Willing and special guest Rify Royalty ( NYC ).
Metro & smartbar, 3730 N Clark, $15 advance, $20 door.
"I Am Elle" presented by Slo 'Mo Party & Futurehood is a dedication to lesbian, trans, queer and nonbinary babes IML weekend, headlined by queer icon, artist and activist JD Samson ( Le Tigre, MEN ) with additional performances by Hijo Prodigo & Mister Wallace ( Futurehood ), Cae Monae, Audio Jack ( Slo 'Mo Party ) and rope bondage inspired performance interventions devised by artist Brendan Fernandes. Samson, widely known as a member of "underground electro-feminist" band Le Tigre, has been an artist and activist in the LGBTQ+ community for nearly two decades and an advocate for nonbinary visibility. Fernandes is a multidisciplinary artist whose recent work "The Master and Form" examines the pain and pleasure of ballet.
Simultaneously, the popular Sunday dance party Queen! takes place downstairs at smartbar, with one ticket granting guests access to the whole building. Metro and smartbar are not accessible via wheelchair; if assistance is needed, arrangements may be made by emailing ask@metrochicago.com .
Sunday, June 3, 4-9 p.m.
Slo 'Mo Party Presents: Old Gold
Waydown at the Ace Hotel, 311 N Morgan, free
Featuring: DJs Tess & Cut Cuz playing all vinyl sets
Slo 'Mo: Slow Jams for Queer Fam present this new tea party celebrating "grown music for grown people," featuring all-vinyl sets by DJs Tess and Cut Cuz at the Ace Hotel's breezy rooftop bar Waydown. Taking place the first Sunday of each month beginning in June, Old Gold is a day party dedicated to celebrating vintage vibes of R&B, funk, disco and house and queer family and allies of all generations, identities, bodies and expressions are welcome. Ace Hotel and Waydown are wheelchair accessible spaces.
Sunday, June 17, 7 p.m.-1 a.m.
Slo 'Mo Fam Pride Jam
Sleeping Village, 3734 W. Belmont
Featuring: Female hip hop duo Mother Nature Barz will lead the line up with Roy Kinsey, DJ sets by Audio Jack and special guests, $10 advance, $15 door.
Slo 'Mo: Slow Jams for Queer Fam present their Pride party in Avondale's newest venue, "Sleeping Village," kicking off with a BBQ presented by queer women-owned catering company Midwest Methods on the patio followed by a queer hip hop showcase and dance party headlined by Chicago's Roy Kinsey, with DJ sets by Slo 'Mo resident DJ Audio Jack. A Chicago born, queer-identified, rapper and librarian, Roy Kinsey's latest album Blackie is a message-oriented project that covers the effects of racism, the Great Migration, addiction, violence, mental illness and sexuality. Sleeping Village is a wheelchair accessible space.
Saturday, June 23, 5 p.m.-Midnight
Navy Pier & No Small Plans Productions Present: Queer the Pier
Navy Pier Beer Garden, free
Featuring: Adam Ness & Friends, Cece Penison, Slo 'Mo Party & more
Produced in partnership by Navy Pier and No Small Plans' Kristen Kaza, "Queer the Pier" travels sonically and visually throughout the history of queer club culture. Chicago R&B vocalist Adam Ness & special guests cover "queer club anthems" followed by a fashion show of "queer club looks through the decades" devised by vintage shop Kokorokoko, with additional creative direction by Darling Shear. Cece Penision, celebating 20 years of the queer anthem "Finally," headlines before Navy Pier's iconic fireworks end the evening with a bang.
For additional details about Slo 'Mo Party pride related events, contact Kristen Kaza: kristenkaza@gmail.com .