Local musician Moran Snow, part of Triggers & Slips, is supporting his friends from The Garage with a benefit concert Saturday, June 23, that aims to keep the bar staff afloat while the watering hole makes repairs after recent fire damage.---

The Garage suffered from a grass fire that spread to consume parts of the building's exterior sides on the morning of June 9 (pictured above). Although insurance can cover much of the structural and smoke damage, “the bar staff that really helps make that bar what it is isn’t covered by insurance,” said Snow.

“They’ve pretty much changed the music scene around here,” said Snow. “We wanted to have the community give back to them while they are restructuring.”

The benefit will feature some of The Garage’s most loyal bands and will be held at The State Room. Opening with The Trappers, the lineup continues with Folka Dots, Triggers & Slips, Candy’s River House and closes with Spell Talk.

“There wasn’t even a hesitation to do it,” said Snow. “That’s what The Garage has done. The relationships they’ve built with people are a testament to what they’re doing.”

The doors will open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 on Saturday. There will be a minimum $10 cash-only cover charge at the door, but attendants are encouraged to donate as much as they can during the event.

The Garage staff will be working at the bar this evening to earn tips, and donated artwork will be auctioned off throughout the evening. All proceeds go to the bar staff. The Garage’s owners Bob McCarthy and Marsha Merrill, whom also own Stoneground pizza, will be dividing the money up between the staff.

Many bands scheduled to play at The Garage this month are rebooking their shows at other venues around Salt Lake City. Hellbound Glory and Morgan Snow will be playing June 18 at Bar Deluxe, but other bands have yet to announce their new venues.

The Garage is hoping to reopen in about two and a half weeks, according to Merrill, but returning the bar to its original state will be impossible.

“It’s destroyed. Our whole back area is destroyed,” said Merrill.

Snow hopes that one of the most important aspects of the bar can be maintained by keeping the bar staff intact until The Garage’s doors reopen.