The Slow Down 2025

13–15 June 2025

We would like to invite you to our cozy Blues festival in Brno. You will have a chance to dive deeper into the blues, its history and culture, enjoy a ballrooming and juke joint style parties full of great music, and practice and develop your partnered and solo dancing during classes.

 

Festival vision

Among others, there are a few things that we consider important when organizing and executing the festival. We hope it might help you decide to attend, and if not, we still want to ensure you are aware of them:

  • We love blues music and its diversity (in styles and tempos) which shapes the diversity of the blues dance. We believe that exploring the different styles and tempos of blues music helps develop universal dance skills and allows you to become a better dancer in general. Let’s break together those misconceptions saying “Blues is only slow…”, “Blues is only this substyle…”, “Blues is only body-on-body sexy moves…”
  • Blues has the ability to not only move your body, but also touch your soul. We believe that can only happen knowing its historical and cultural context. That knowledge can even lead us to think about our own values and definitely helps to be a better blues dancer (and hopefully person). We aim to support our lecturers in placing the lesson in a historical and social context and, if the schedule allows, we also organize talks about blues music, dance, and its history and culture.
  • We prefer having a blues party in a bar. It can be packed and vibrant from the beginning; towards the end, you can expect slower tempos and maybe less lights. We will also have a ballroomin’ night in a suitable venue for that, but don’t worry, the after-party is in a bar 😉
  • We want you to enjoy the party for as long as possible, so we’re planning not to start the classes too early. Also, If you’ve attended festivals before, you know that the Sunday party is always the highlight, and we treat it as such! Therefore, we suggest taking the day off on Monday so you can stay until the end! 🙂
  • Sometimes it might be challenging for party pass holders (especially introverts) to meet new people and create new connections with others, especially if they primarily encounter other festival attendees only during the parties.That’s why we’ve arranged some special additional programs/activities included in party pass, providing opportunities to meet, socialize, and connect with other party pass holders.
  • We strive to provide a safe and comfortable experience for all attendees. Please read our code of conduct and help us to create a safe and friendly event. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable or annoying situation, do not hesitate to contact our care team.

Video recap from previous year

The Slow Down 2024 is a history, but a beautiful one. Let us bring you back with us to that particularly hot summer weekend with a thousand little stories to tell – and some of them, to forever hold a secret.

 

Bands and parties

 

Friday party with Vienna Blues Association

Location TBA

For almost 20 years now, Jörg Danielsen’s heart has been captured by the blues. His influences reach back to the electric blues of the 1960s & 70s and cover a wide range of styles within that era. The leg shaking and body twisting energy of Danielsen and his 2 other fine young gentlemen Martin Melzer and Christoph Karas on stage won’t leave any dry seats in the house.

Saturday party 

TBA

 

Saturday afterparty with Bobby’s Funeral

Location TBA

Bobby’s Funeral doesn’t sleep! Bobby, Jay, Adélka, Petr and Filip are regularly practicing new blues material, which will definitely take you out of your miseries, or lethargy. Don’t fall asleep too and come to listen to Bobby’s Funeral at AFTERPARTY at the Smoking Rabbit Bar!

 

Sunday party with Géri & The Lizards

Location TBA

Géri & The Lizards are stewing in the sun. They’re contemplating about the heat. Heat you will feel underneath your grooving feet and on your glistening skin, while you‘ll be immersed into their world of blues. It‘s Beneš, Kraut, Micenko, Hajtmánek & Schnyder on the Shreds-Hammer-Slap-Sticks & Sho-bees!

Photo by Jiří Lubojacký