THE GARAGE
Encyclopedia
The Garage is a non-profit youth center
and all-ages music venue
in Burnsville, Minnesota
, a southern suburb of Minneapolis. It has been a launching point for local bands such as Down and Above, Dropping Daylight
, Escape from Earth, Four Letter Lie
, Quietdrive
, Screaming Mechanical Brain, and The Autumn Cause.
The Garage was opened on July 17, 1999 offering after-school and weekend activities for the youth of Burnsville by hosting support groups, learning classes,
speakers, awareness benefits, fundraisers, music, concerts and parties. In 2000, the venues sustained operation went into question, possibly due to low attendances and high expenses. This led to Burnsville students launching the Minnesota Teen Music Association (MTMA), giving teenage musicians responsibility for organizing and implementing The Garage as a night club venue.
At the end of 2001, The Garage faced another potential shut-down as all state grant money was frozen. However, on January 12, 2002, a reprieve was won and funding was restored to the facility. In 2006, a large project was approved, with the donation of three adjoining Burnsville City Council's maintenance garages. This would allow the venue to double in size and add several new areas, including a recording studio and a gym.
and has also been honored with 2000 Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Award of Excellence and the 2001 Burnsville Community Builder. In 2001 the Minnesota Music Academy
announcing it was adding a teen-band category to the ballot and decided to host it's Icebreaker show at The Garage. In 2003, a documentary of the center titled "Suburban Zeal" was produced to draw attention to teenage needs.
Youth club
A youth club or youth social club is a place where young people can meet and enjoy activities such as football, soccer, basketball, table tennis, or video games, and other religious, sports activities are frequently sponsored by a community center....
and all-ages music venue
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
in Burnsville, Minnesota
Burnsville, Minnesota
Burnsville is a city south of downtown Minneapolis in Dakota County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies on the south bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from the confluence with the Mississippi River...
, a southern suburb of Minneapolis. It has been a launching point for local bands such as Down and Above, Dropping Daylight
Dropping Daylight
Dropping Daylight is a modern rock/alternative rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have toured with Blue October and Breaking Benjamin, and more recently with Army of Anyone and Sick Puppies.-History:...
, Escape from Earth, Four Letter Lie
Four Letter Lie
-History:The group formed in 2004 and quickly released an EP entitled Her Escape in May 2005. They followed the release with a heavy tour schedule, which included dates on the Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos tours. The group won an online vote to open the Taste of Chaos date in St. Paul, Minnesota...
, Quietdrive
Quietdrive
Quietdrive is an alternative rock band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that formed in 2002. Quietdrive released their debut album When All That's Left Is You on May 30, 2006 on Epic Records. In April 2008, Quietdrive parted with Epic Records and released their album titled Deliverance on October...
, Screaming Mechanical Brain, and The Autumn Cause.
History
In 1995, the Burnsville city developed the idea to build The Garage as a multi-purpose community center. Although initially voted down, the idea was given momentum when in 1997 grants were obtained to cover the operational costs of a youth center. However, the project lacked the funding necessary to construct or convert a building into a suitable space. In 1998, recommendations for a central youth gathering facility established the Burnsville Youth Center Foundation and through funding from the city and donations from civic organizations and local businesses they were able to establish the youth center now known as The Garage. At the inception of the project the Garage Advisory Board (GAB) was created, which represents and makes decisions on behalf of venue.The Garage was opened on July 17, 1999 offering after-school and weekend activities for the youth of Burnsville by hosting support groups, learning classes,
speakers, awareness benefits, fundraisers, music, concerts and parties. In 2000, the venues sustained operation went into question, possibly due to low attendances and high expenses. This led to Burnsville students launching the Minnesota Teen Music Association (MTMA), giving teenage musicians responsibility for organizing and implementing The Garage as a night club venue.
At the end of 2001, The Garage faced another potential shut-down as all state grant money was frozen. However, on January 12, 2002, a reprieve was won and funding was restored to the facility. In 2006, a large project was approved, with the donation of three adjoining Burnsville City Council's maintenance garages. This would allow the venue to double in size and add several new areas, including a recording studio and a gym.
Awards and events
The Garage was named "Best All Ages Venue" between 2004 and 2008 by local magazine City PagesCity Pages
City Pages is an alternative weekly newspaper serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. It features news, film, theatre and restaurant reviews, and music criticism. It is printed in a tabloid format, and is available free every Wednesday...
and has also been honored with 2000 Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Award of Excellence and the 2001 Burnsville Community Builder. In 2001 the Minnesota Music Academy
Minnesota Music Academy
The Minnesota Music Academy is a music institution in Minnesota. The Academy promotes the Minnesota Music Awards, which it gives out, and also operates a music festival called The Icebreaker....
announcing it was adding a teen-band category to the ballot and decided to host it's Icebreaker show at The Garage. In 2003, a documentary of the center titled "Suburban Zeal" was produced to draw attention to teenage needs.