21/05/2026
Well, that NEW POLICY thing about wrestling a lion to perform didnât pan out. Jan Luby whooped that lionâs ass right off the bat!!! So, we were back to one song only and a second round after the break, for a total of 32 separate performances. We may have to install bleachers. Just two Open Mics in June until we take our summer break July and August so the volunteers can work on reducing their turkey necks. The temperature is heating up outside, but it is still cool inside at JHH thanks to that building thermal mass thingy. Hope to see yâall Friday. We have lion burgers as snacks this week.
Todayâs quote by Groucho Marx: âBe open minded, but not so open minded that your brains fall outâ.
Henryâs Hammer 10th Open Mic of the 2026 year is Friday 5/22/26. Please read the IMPORTANT details somewhere below. RememberâŠthey are IMPORTANT.
Sign-up to perform when you come. 6:30 â 7:00. The 5/8/26 Open Mic featured 20 performersâŠagain!!! Two new performers among them. The (unbelievably wonderful) volunteers cleaned up and headed home for a dose of Aleve and well deserved night of rest. Depending on the number of performers, we may limit the number of songs one may perform, so sign up early. We reserve the right to limit the number of performances because us old people get tired.
The coffee is always fresh (both regular and decaf) and there is tea for the non-coffee crowd. The snack selection is varied and âby crackyâ tasty. When you are done with your mug, please bring it to the opening by the tacky flashing sign so it can be sprayed with the hottest water in the world in our Hobart commercial dishwasher. THAT MEANS YOU! Thank you! (the management)
FYI JHH is an informal offshoot of the music program at First Unitarian Church of Worcester. All staff are volunteers. All the snacks are donated by the volunteers.
All money goes to sustain JHH and we donate a substantial portion of our proceeds to the church for use of the space. (We keep the rest , roll the cash up and smoke it) Hope to see you this Friday!!!!!
Here are the usual IMPORTANT BS for JHH Open Mic:
2nd and 4th Fridays (except when noted)
First Unitarian Church, 90 Main St, Worcester, MA
Doors open and performer sign-up at 6:30 p.m.
Performances begin @ 7 p.m.
10 minutes in the limelight- spoken word or music (usually two songs unless you choose to sing American Pie or some sea shanty with fifty verses). Duos or groups are considered one act and CANNOT sign up as single performers too. Putting on a pair of nose glasses will NOT fool us. $3.00 admission for everybody. Performer or spectator. Payable to the lovely lady at the folding card table who rules with an iron fist (please bring $1 bills). Refreshments & snacks (donation appreciated).
PLEASE enter State Street upper parking lot door. Handicap parking and accessibility at the other side of the church on Court Street by the Courthouse apartments. If you DO park on Court Street only park on the church side of the street or you could get towed. The parking meters on Main Street and State Street require money until 8:00 pm. The meter maids (and dudes) love to hand out tickets. Grrrrr!
Weather Cancellations: ANY weather cancellations of the Worcester Public Schools on the day of Open Mic WILL cancel Open Mic. (That could be tornados⊠ya never know)
We are recording the performances. We intend on starting a NEW YouTube site in the future and would like to post selective performances. If you DO NOT want your video online please inform the JHH volunteer (Bob) recording with the smart phone at the center table.
Excellent alcohol-free venue for people from their teens and upward to perform in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
Come to perform or just listen. The JHH crew is looking forward to seeing you! John Henry's Hammer - It's that traditional coffee house feel without the (cough!) cigarette smoke.
