John Henry’s is a staple of the bar scene in Eugene. Located in downtown Eugene and established in 1992, John Henry’s has created an environment and community that keeps fans returning. The bar has many weekly events, such as Metal Mondays, when the bar plays heavy metal music all night. John Henrys has been able to curate a community of Monday regulars who come to enjoy the environment, good music and friendly staff.

“Metal Mondays is a really cool spot for metal, punk and a variety of different kinds of music,” Scott Fentress, a bartender at John Henry’s, said. “I think it helped revitalize the metal community in Eugene, and it’s just a safe space for a lot of people in the community.”

John Henry’s has fostered a community of music lovers with Metal Mondays and other events, and their consistency has created a place for fans and bands to keep coming back and doing what they love most. The bar tries to remain available to people who can’t take time out of their busy schedules to come and enjoy the music that they love most.

For those with non-traditional weekends — people who don’t work a weekday 9–5 — your “weekends” don’t have to be a bust. Monday night is just as good as a Friday at John Henry’s.

“We have been able to cultivate the hesher, heavy metal community, which is pretty cool,” Jaden NcGinnis, Metal Mondays manager, said. “Typically, when we have a Metal Monday, we have more folks in our place than any of the other places downtown. It’s hard to get folks out on a Monday, but it’s always fun and a pretty killer time.”

Metal Mondays grants bands in the heavy metal scene the opportunity to play for an energetic crowd and help get a head start in the music industry. The event cultivates a space for many to feel safe and welcomed.

“There are other bars around the area that also cater to that metal punk community, but John Henry’s also helped support the LGBTQ+ community, which I think is super important,” Fentress said.

Next time you’re looking to mix up your Monday, head to John Henry’s and experience the electricity of Metal Mondays.