Extended Play II Dismal Niche 2025
Columbia’s experimental music non-profit Dismal Niche hosted the second edition of the Extended Play (EP) festival in October, featuring three main acts: Detroit rapper Boldy James, Chicago jazz collective Natural Information Society, and West Coast hip hop legend Swamp Dogg. These photos were taken for Dismal Niche’s social media throughout the festival.

Swamp Dogg greets Cafe Berlin audience members near the end of his Sunday night set. Swamp Dogg’s performance closed out a weekend of music and art.
BSA Gold sings at the microphone at Whitmore Recital Hall. BSA Gold opened for Natural Information Society on Saturday night.
Boldy James raps at Rose Music Hall on Friday night. The Detroit rapper’s performance opened the festival.
Natural Information Society’s Josh Abrams plays a small wooden flute during the beginning of their set at Whitmore Recital Hall.
Abrams strums his guimbri during the band’s rendition of John Coltrane’s “Naima.”
Boldy James points to the sky during his Rose Music Hall performance.
Khiro Kano listens to the crowd during his set on Friday night. Kano is an STL-based rapper and opened for Boldy James at EP II.
Josh Abrams settles into a deep groove during his performance of “Perserverance Flow.”
Natural Information Society’s Lisa Alvarado keys her harmonium on the Whitmore Recital Hall stage.
Western Grip guitarist riffs at Cafe Berlin while opening for Swamp Dogg on Sunday night.
Swamp Dogg checks his music stand on stage at Cafe Berlin.
Swamp Dogg presses down on his keyboard during his Cafe Berlin set for EP II.
Swamp Dogg stands triumphantly after performing a song. Earlier in the day, Swamp Dogg’s documentary “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted.”

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