The Garage

The Garage was the best place in Winston-​Salem for open mic night. I played here a number of times from 2007 through 2012, and I got my nickname, the Thomasville Troubadour, from my friend, Country Dan Collins, who hosted the event. If you’re in downtown Winston-​Salem and you want to enjoy some good music and have a great time, then the Garage is the place for you!

Walked in on a Saturday night, through an open door, and we were immediately bullied — pushed and yelled at – by a doorman for apparently walking in through the wrong door. Since I’m 69 years old, I don’t particularly appreciate being bullied; and since there was virtually no one there that night, it seems that someone could have politely informed us that we had chosen the wrong entrance, and everything would have been OK.
As for the venue itself, its ambiance certainly reflects its name. The Garage is a dark, industrial music venue with a young hipster clientele, and the music was hard, moderately talented rock. It may not be to my taste, but it would have been somewhat charming if it wasn’t for an unnecessarily rude staff.

This is a great historic bar in Winston-​Salem. It’s great to see band & also a good place to grab a drink. They don’t have a/​c yet, so ladies don’t wear too much. They usually have good bands & other musical & non-​musical talent in for performances. You gotta love the Garage!

I attended a concert at the Garage on a Saturday night in the early fall of 2010. The décor is just that, an old garage, with that attendant industrial theme in a high-​ceilinged cinder block building. The sound system is very good, plenty loud without permanent hearing loss. Several large industrial fans kept the place cool. The beer selection was excellent, with several NC craft brews on tap as well as the obligatory «domestics». There was a full bar and the prices were reasonable for drinks in Winston-​Salem. The Garage is hoping to be part of a larger night-​life music scene in the 6^th street area with other venues (I’ve heard) moving in soon).