Combining elements of music, dance, drag, and entertainment, Sleaze Ball was born out of the desire for a party or event that brought hipsters, indie rockers, and weirdos together to celebrate the monoculture of indie/alternative music through a queer lens and experience.

Sleaze Ball creator Will Nowak felt that something was missing in Buffalo’s nightlife scene in the post-pandemic landscape and wanted to pay homage to the nightlife he grew up with. Inspired by iconic Buffalo venues like Soundlab, Mohawk Place, and Noir, as well as dance parties such as The Communist Party, Shock and Awe, and Transmission, Nowak sought to create a space for queer people to get sweaty, dress a little grungy, and dance to songs that aren’t typically heard at gay clubs. He also felt it was important to feature drag performances throughout the event, offering not only entertainment but also context, commentary, and an additional visual experience. From there, the foundation and vision of Sleaze Ball were born.

At the same time, the buzzphrase "indie sleaze" had started to become the moniker for the era of hipster subculture from 2006-2012, as we began to see a resurgence in today’s music, fashion, social media, and pop culture. From Charli XCX’s "brat" era to Saltburn, the influences of indie sleaze were becoming mainstream once again. Striking while the iron was hot, Nowak decided he wanted to throw a party that married these two foundational ideas: reincarnating Buffalo's early-aughts nightlife scene and celebrating indie sleaze. He called it “Sleaze Ball.”

LLaunching in December of 2022, Sleaze Ball was an instant success. Ten parties later, Sleaze Ball had become a staple in both the Buffalo party scene and the Buffalo drag scene. However, due to a fractured partnership between Nowak and his partner, Sleaze Ball was canceled indefinitely. To continue the spirit of his passion project, Nowak continued to DJ under the moniker of “Sleaze Ball” at local queer bar 26 with a monthly residency.

Now, just about a year after the hiatus, Nowak plans to bring the party back in the summer of 2025 in hopes of reuniting the Sleaze Ball community and continuing to elevate the party to its full potential.