Center for New Music
The Verdict
"Performances in this intimate venue start on time, so arrive early to catch the full show. Most shows have a flexible pay-what-you-wish system of $5–$20, and some are free."
What you need to know
A nonprofit performance and presenting space for experimental and contemporary composition on Taylor Street in the Tenderloin.
What to Expect
The programming covers what gets called new music: electroacoustic composition, noise, sound art, experimental improvisation, and contemporary classical. Shows happen several nights a week and often feature Bay Area composers performing their own work, for a small audience. The space is a single room with flexible seating that also functions as a gallery for sound installations between concerts. Most events run a $5 to $20 sliding scale and some are free; shows start on time and the room is small.
Getting There
Powell BART and the Powell Muni Metro stop are both about a five-minute walk. Many Muni lines run along Market nearby.
Explore Nearby
Swan Oyster Depot
Anthony Bourdain called it his favorite seafood spot in America.
The Rotunda
Lunch and afternoon tea under a 1909 stained-glass dome.
Starlite
A 21st-floor Union Square lounge with cocktails by Trick Dog's Scott Baird.
Bourbon & Branch
A Tenderloin speakeasy in a building that hid a real Prohibition-era bar.







