We Love Weekends: Montgomery County Planner for Feb. 8-Feb. 10

February is Black History Month, a time to recognize the contributions African Americans have made to our nation throughout its history. Several Montgomery County organizations have planned events, see our event guide for details.

Here are some additional suggestions for arts and entertainment around the county this weekend.

Friday, Feb. 8

Christian Sands:  Five-time Grammy nominee, pianist Christian Sands if one of the most in-demand musicians working in jazz. Bring Your Own Feast to this Friday Night Series performance. Friday at 8 p.m. at the BlackRock Center for the Arts. Click here for more information. $25-$45.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo:  South African a capella vocal harmony group performs traditional music called isicathamiya which developed in the mines of South Africa. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has recorded more than 70 albums and earned 19 Grammy nominations and five Grammy Award wins.  At the Music Center at Strathmore. Friday at 8 p.m. For more information, click here. $29-$69.

Once:  Set in contemporary Dublin, a street guitarist is about to give up on his dreams when he meets a curious woman who wants to know all about him. The two embark on a remarkable music-making journey that includes a group of unlikely companions. This musical is based on the 2006 film which won an Oscar for Best Original Song. Runs through March 10 at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road. For more information, click here.  $64-$84.

Saturday, Feb. 9

Farmers Markets Kensington’s farmers market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kensington Train Station, 3701 Howard Ave. Click here for more information. Gaithersburg’s Main Street Farmers and Artists Market takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Main Street Park and Pavilion, 301 Main St. Click here for more information. Silver Spring’s Freshfarm Downtown Market runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ellsworth Drive and Veterans Plaza. Click here for more information.

Building a Musical:  Once Director/Choreographer and Broadway veteran Marcia Milgrom Dodge will present the many layers of putting together a musical theatre production. Saturday at 5 p.m. at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road. For more information, click here.  $10.

Enter the Haggis: This Toronto based band combines contemporary Celtic music with rock instrumentation. Their live shows are propelled by energy and tremendous audience interaction. At AMP by Strathmore, 11810 Grand Park Avenue, North Bethesda. 8 p.m. For more information, click here. $27-$37.

Love Canon:  Bringing bluegrass sensibilities to the electronic-tinged pop hits of the 80’s and 90’s, Love Canon will take you back in time. With reimagined hits from Peter Gabriel, Billy Joel, Depeche Mode, and Paul Simon, these seasoned virtuoso strings players stay true to the approach, arrangements, and keen artistry of these nostalgic hits. Saturday at 8 p.m. at the BlackRock Center for the Arts. Click here for more information. $25-$45.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Young Taiwanese-American violinist Paul Huang, the winner of the 2017 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, takes center stage for Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto. Requiring tons of technical bravura, this concerto exudes Russian Romanticism with a touch of Gershwin. Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 is one of the composer’s best-loved symphonies. The program concludes with Chabrier’s sparkling Españaand Beethoven’s thrilling Leonore Overture No. 3. At the Music Center at Strathmore. Saturday at 8 p.m. For more information, click here. $35-$90.

Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto

Sunday, Feb. 10

The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940: Rockville Little Theatre spoofs the murder mystery movie genre in this comedy at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, Rockville Civic Center, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. Six performances | Feb. 1, 2, 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. | February 3 and 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets $22. Click here for more information.

Voices from the Holy Land Film Series:  The first film in this series is titled ‘Home Front: Portraits From Sheikh Jarrah’ and captures voices of those struggling to stop settlement expansion in East Jerusalem and build a future of pluralism and equality in the city. A question and answer session following the screening will be moderated by Phillip Farah, Co-Chair Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Piece. Sunday, Feb. 10, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.at Islamic Center of Maryland, 19411 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg. Click here for more information.

Anthony Brown & Group Therapy : Pianist Anthony Brown and his ensemble perform Gospel music. Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club, 7719 Wisconsin Ave. Doors open at 3 p.m. $49-$59. 240-330-4500. For more information, click here.

Farmers Markets Takoma Park Farmers Market takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Laurel Avenue. Click here for more information.

Watch the latest CultureSpot MC video, below, for more events happening this month:

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