The Stone

The Stone is a not-for-profit experimental music performance space located in the Alphabet City neighborhood in New York City. It was founded in April 2005 by John Zorn, who serves as the artistic director.

Unlike most musical venues in the area, The Stone does not serve food or drinks. Dancing is also not permitted, as The Stone does not have a cabaret license. All door revenues from the admission cost are given directly to the performers. The club supports itself with donations, benefit concerts, and sales of limited edition CDs. The CD series includes performers such as Mike Patton, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Bill Laswell, Medeski, Martin and Wood and John Zorn.

From 2005 to 2016 The Stone was booked on a curatorial basis. Every month, a different guest curator was chosen to book performances. As a result, a wide variety of musical styles have been seen in the space, although the vast majority of performers can be considered part of the experimental music or avant-garde scene. Beginning April 2013 The Stone suspended the curator series to present a variety of distinguished cutting-edge artists in week-long Stone Residencies, performing their own work 6 nights a week, two sets a night.

Every Sunday Afternoon At 3pm ;

From March to May 2015 John Zorn wrote 300 new tunes collected in a book of music called The Bagatelles. Like the Masada book (only more atonal) the compositions are meant to be interpreted by a wide range of musicians. Every Sunday afternoon for the next six months a stellar lineup of musicians will premiere these pieces at The Stone— with new music at every concert. Come on down!