The Stone (music space)

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 musician John Zorn, who serves as the artistic director.

Location

The Stone is situated on the Northwest corner of Avenue C and 2nd Street, in a building which used to be a corner grocery store. Residential apartments are located above The Stone in the same building, though residents enter the building through a separate door along Avenue C.

Admission and Administration

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 $10 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, and John Zorn himself.

Every month, a guest curator is 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.

Aesthetics

The Stone provides very sparse amenities, as there are no refreshments or commercial products served at the space. There is typically no more than one door volunteer present each night, whose only duties include collecting door fees, keeping the area tidy, and aiding the performers. The space's walls are white, and the floor is painted black, in order to maintain an aesthetic lacking flashiness. The audience sits on black folding chairs that match the floor. The bathroom, located behind the area where performers are often situated, is not permitted for use during concerts. John Zorn is intent on keeping the space as neutral as possible, in order to provide no distractions during the musical performance. Regulars at the venue argue that the lack of amenities lets the audience focus on the music better, with fewer distractions.

External links

* [http://www.thestonenyc.com Official Website]
* [http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/in_the_city/for_the_music.php Concert Review]
* [http://www.nypress.com/18/13/listings/sheridan.cfm Announcement of club's opening]
* [http://www.nypress.com/18/35/news&columns/mandell.cfm New York Press article]