FEATURED POET ANNOUNCEMENT 📣
Y’all know we look forward to any chance to celebrate our local poets during National Poetry Month and this year is no different. Without further ado, we’re glad to announce Joey Gorombey as the second featured poet for our evening at OneMic Collective presents: Contrast.
Joey Gorombey has his roots in confessional and post-confessional poetry and owns a software company in Columbia, Missouri.
Joey has always written to “troubleshoot” the things that software can’t—to make sense of the messy, non-linear nature in which we live our lives and to harvest our experiences. Still young and nascent in his writing career, his favorite works include Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf and The Two Kinds of Decay by Sarah Manguso. Although he aims for some combination of closure and perspective, writing has just as often led him to fold his hand in search of either.
Joey holds a summa cum laude degree in English, with a specialty in creative writing. He interned at the University of Missouri for its poetry magazine and podcast and was a memoir finalist in CNF Review. He continues to seek active involvement in Columbia’s literary community and is an amateur stand-up comedian.
We can’t wait to welcome him to the stage for his FIRST OneMic appearance.
Here’s our FEATURED POET for April’s OneMic, OneMic Collective presents: Contrast. We are excited to welcome none other than one of the FOUNDERS of this here humble collective, T’Keyah Thomas!
T’Keyah Thomas is a spoken word poet and jewelry designer based in Columbia, MO. She is a lover of all things art, Black History and Afrofuturism.
Ancestral reverence sits at the center of much of T’Keyah’s work. She draws inspiration from the history and folklore found throughout the Black diaspora, often adopting the West African philosophy of Sankofa, which means to “go back and get it”. In other words, learn from the past to understand the present and better prepare for the future.
Over the years, TK has been a witness to and has assisted in the creation and operations of several local arts programs and cultural events in Columbia, including the OneMic Poetry Collective, Lisamona LIVE, Unbound Book Festival, Louder than a Bomb (Mid-MO chapter) and Soul Sessions COMO. As a host and audio producer for KBIA (91.3FM), you’re likely to catch TK on-air during the day with a Dilla beat behind her, or moderating a panel on art and local history.
We’re so excited to welcome her to the stage and we’ll see YOU on April 29th. Doors at 6, show at 7!
It’s official folks! Sign-ups for this week’s OneMic are open! We are looking forward to seeing our community members shine on the stage we will create together tomorrow!
OneMic Collective presents: Contrast is going to be one for the books!
OneMic Collective Presents: Courage delivered an incredible showcase with GW Norman III sharing his unforgettable poetry and Sirkareem holding down the featured artist spot. There were many bold performances and the room was full of connection, creativity, and courage.
Thank you to everyone who came through to support the arts. 🎭 See you in April!
Join us for a powerful evening of music and poetry featuring Marjai and GW Norman III.
Marjai, a Kansas City–born rapper, blends her slam poetry roots with unapologetic lyricism. GW Norman III brings sharp social commentary, dark humor, and deeply introspective work that explores vulnerability, resistance, alienation, and redemption.
Doors at 6 PM Show at 7 PM $5 suggested donation
Come ready to feel something. Come ready for courage.
T-minus 3 days to our first BHM event of the year and of course it’s a cozy collaboration with The Herbal Joint . Time to show up and show out. Sign ups are open!
Love being a Christmas Guru this time of year! 🎄✨
Here are a few holiday songs we performed at last week’s set! Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas today! ☺️🫶🏽
Lionelle, you are a beast on the piano, buddy!! 🎹 @lionelle.miller
🎶 Let It Snow • Winter Wonderland
📍 Hitt Records
📆 One Mic | 12.17.25
#tistheseason #columbiamo #onemic #hittrex #doublehelix
Just wanna give a huge thank you to One Mic & Hitt Records for the opportunity to perform last week! I had such an amazing time and what a freaking cool place to perform in! 🥁🎤
This community is so supportive and vibrant. I’m really grateful to be back in Columbia and to have a space where I can keep learning, growing, and pushing myself as a musician. Excited to write more originals and maybe have another show soon! #woopwoop
SIGN UPS are OPEN! Sign up in advance to secure your spot. Otherwise, you’re welcome to come through and sign up at the door. Either way, we can’t wait to see you on stage.
Percussion of a heartbeat
kept us all company
as we formed ourselves into being.
DNA proteins reading out to the
bumbum bumbum
pulse feed of the first living thing we encounter.
Mother, next lesson in percussion
Patty cake, patty cake, till you
roll those hands to the beat.
Throw them in the oven
For a pencil
and a desk with a metal seat-
Suddenly it’s Clipse percussion
circa 2002
Grinding down the seconds in school
with a freestyle crew
speaking out
til the stylo
is the undeniable tool.
Discussion a twittering:
What makes you come alive?
What makes you feel like you’re living?
Vibration from the bass in my feet.
Hands in the air,
Music in the timbre of gathering.
Percussion feeds.
Tell me:
What is banging against your chest
ready to be shared on the beat?
Guess we’ll see on Dec. 17th (OKAY THIS LAST LINE IS BARS BECAUSE THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT.) OneMic Collective presents: Percussion
GUYSSSS!! I’M SINGING/PLAYING WITH MY BAND BY MY FRIGGIN’ SELF FOR THE FIRST TIME EVAAAA!! 🥁🎤😬🤣🥹🙌🏽
THIS WEDNESDAY I’ll be the featured artist for this month’s One Mic at Hitt Street Records!! HUGE thank you to Miranda and her amazing team for giving me this opportunity!! 🥹💛 @miranran_
The theme is “Percussion”, so expect a lil bit of everything: drum covers, original songs (GO DOUBLE HELIX, WOOP WOOP 🧬🔥), and yes—some Christmas tunes (of courseeeee 🎄✨). I’M SO NERVOUS AND SO EXCITED!! COME OUT AND SUPPORT YA HOMIE AND MY BOYZ!!
• @double.helix.band 🧬
• @nerdbrent 🎸
• @lionelle.miller 🎹
🗓️ Wed, Dec. 17 ⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Hit Street Records @hitt_rex
#DoubleHelix #DoubleHelixMusic #OneMic #HittStreetRecords #LiveMusic #LocalMusic #FeaturedArtist #Percussion #DrummerLife #LittleDrummer #FirstShow #TisTheSeason #HolidayVibes #ColumbiaMO
