Dismal Niche

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Columbia Experimental Music Programming
Community arts nonprofit Est. 2013 Columbia and Chicago. Our programming welcomes artists from across the U.S.

Founded in 2013 in Columbia, Dismal Niche began as a DIY, artist-operated record label and community arts network committed to promoting and archiving the expression of the more independent, esoteric and experimental accents of the local and regional music and arts community. Since incorporating as a non-profit in 2015, the activities of the organization have largely revolved around the programming of the annual Columbia Experimental Music Festival and intermittent seasonal concerts. and from around the world to Columbia offering local residents rare opportunities to experience world class presentations of innovative and non-conventional music, art and performances that would likely otherwise not occur in Columbia. Through our programming we aim to facilitate immersive, interactive experiences that are both cognitively and viscerally challenging while also restorative and conducive to the non-didactic freedom of subjective interpretation and enjoyment. We believe that community experiences with adventurous music and art can help stimulate critical and creative thought not only about the ways in which music and art can be seen, heard, felt or performed, but also the ways in which public spaces can be used, transformed or subverted and social relationships expanded and re-imagined.

10/26/2026

Dismal Niche program director Matthew Crook aka DJ Dizzy Nights / aka Selector M / aka Mattdadd will take to the airwaves tonight 8-10pm alongside host Kelvin Walsh Kevin Kelvin Walsh on KOPN KOPN 89.5 FM to discuss the full ‘26-27 Dismal Niche lineup and spin tracks from this season’s featured artists. Turn on, Tune In…

10/23/2026

Clear some space out to space out with Shabazz Palaces Barbara & Reginald’s Son Saturday, November 14th at The Blue Note The Blue Note w/ the cool kids at KCOU 88.1FM !!!

30 years since spearheading seminal 90’s jazz-rap group Digable Planets Digable Planets and 15 years since changing the game with his experimental-rap masterpiece, the Shabazz Palaces debut Black Up, Grammy-award-winning Ishmael Butler continues to cosmically expand in all directions with his new album It’s a Style Sport dropping TODAY on Sub Pop Records Sub Pop

Experience a night of hip-hop history when Ish brings his full backing band of Digable collaborators to Columbia for the Extended Play Festival!

Tickets in Bio, students pricing available

10/22/2026

Next Friday!
6-8: 20 Years in the Crypt: Embedded on Tour with Dead Moon - a road documentary!
8:30-11: Live Music / Halloween Party w/ Static Paisley, Zoner Outer and Aum Syndicate!
$5-10 suggested

10/16/2026

Flutes flutter with the freedom of falling leaves! Come play outside the confines of the game with us tonight as we welcome The Fred Tompkins Trio to kick off the third season of the Left Field Series at Whitmore Recital Hall!

7pm doors / 8pm show
Tickets in bio or from Jazz Series

There is still time to save some dough across all four LF Series shows by purchasing a full series pass! The rest of the series features:

- Blacks’ Myths: Jan. 22nd at Cafe Berlin

- Mary Halvorson Canis Major: Feb. 12th at the Blue Note

- Dream Brigade: April 9th at Whitmore Recital Hall

10/11/2026

The third season of the Left Field Series — the collaborative 4-concert program co-presented by Dismal Niche and We Always Swing — kicks off THIS Friday with the Fred Tompkins Trio at Whitmore Recital Hall. Lucky for you, there is still time to save $20 over the course of the season by purchasing a full series pass!

Head to the link in the bio for a full series pass or use the following address: https://wealwaysswingjazzseries.thundertix.com/events/269120

10/06/2026

20 Years in the Crypt: Embedded on Tour with Dead Moon Magic Umbrella Inc.
Film screening + Halloween Party
Friday, Oct. 30th at Cafe Berlin
6-8 Film
8:30 Live Music w/ Static Paisley Patrick Kopine Aum Syndicate Aum Syndicate Zoner Outer Zoner Outer
$10 / free for sustaining supporters!
Teaming up with Dead Moon in 2001 to shoot the documentary Unknown Passage: The Dead Moon Story was a transformative adventure for filmmakers Summers and Kate Fix. They created a lifelong bond with all three members of the band, which continues to this day with the sole survivor, Toody Cole.

Shot in 2001 on tour in Europe and the US, with a days-long visit to the famous Cole home, the original film left little opportunity to allow for full-length song performances, as hearing from Andrew Loomis, Fred & Toody Cole often overlapped with concert footage. This new film revisits the performances that Jason & Kate captured on those tours, most of it never presented to the world until now. We also see fun and interesting footage of a less formal nature, just hanging out and traveling with the band. This film is meant to be an extension of Unknown Passage, and the desire is to provide a window back in time for fans of Dead Moon, both old and new!

09/30/2026

Thanks to everyone who made it out to our season opener with Horse Lords Horse Lords and Holofoil holofoil at Cafe Berlin Berlin Nights • Cafe B COMO / Cafe Berlin • Columbia, MO • brunch + music this past weekend! This music was ecstatic and the audience was locked in 🔒

Next up we’ve got:
🪈 The Fred Tompkins Trio - Friday, October 16th at Whitmore Recital Hall as part of our Left Field Series with Jazz Series

🌘 20 Years in the Crypt: Embedded on Tour with Dead Moon followed by a Halloween Party w/ Static Paisley Patrick Kopine Aum Syndicate Aum Syndicate and Zoner Outer Zoner Outer - Oct. 30th at Cafe Berlin

▶️ Extended Play Fall Festival w/ Shabazz Palaces, Marquis Hill, Tyondai Braxton, JWords and the Mizzou Creative Improv Collective - Nov. 12-14.

Tickets on sale for all shows at dismalniche.com - buying in advance is greatly appreciated 🙏

📸 Excellent photos of Horse Lords captured by holofoil and of Holofoil by 𝖏 𝖒𝖚𝖗𝖙𝖆

Address

Columbia, MO

Telephone

+15737216288

Website

http://www.dismalniche.com/

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