“Rasa String Quartet,” Groundfloor, Freeport

Feb. 20, Thursday, 6:30pm, “Whales in the Gulf of Maine,” Mark Dittrick of the Right Whale Alliance, will present on whales in the Gulf of Maine, with an in-depth look at Right Whales. Diitrick will update us on the current status of the right whale with regard to its population which has experienced a significant decline. He will also look at efforts to reverse this trend, free, Belfast City Free Library, High Street, Belfast. FMI: 207-338-3884, belfastbaywatershed.org/programs.php.

Feb. 20, Thursday, 7:30pm, “Ladies of Flame,” The Ladies of Flame first gathered in 2010 to perform a program of torch songs to benefit Freeport Community Centers Burn the Mortgage fund. Now theyre back with additional voices for their tenth anniversary, and as hot as ever! Led this year by accompanist and arranger Jane Bradley, the 2020 Ladies of Flame are Lisa Bossi, Katrina Crowell, Johanna DeGrandpre, Lenore DiFiore, Ellen Ebert, Janelle LoSciuto, Janie Downey Maxwell. Come in from the cold and hear them bring some heat to Maine’s long winter. A portion of funds raised will go to the Freeport Arts Alliance, $12/advance, $15/door, Cadenza, 5 Depot Street, Freeport. FMI: www.cadenzafreeport.com.

Feb. 22, Saturday, 3pm, “George Lopez & Gulimina Mahamuti, pianos,” Gulimina Mahamuti and Bowdoin’s Beckwith Artist in Residence George Lopez will perform works including Schumann’s Canonic Studies and the epic Rachmaninoff Suite No. 2. That morning George Lopez will give a masterclass to piano students from nine until noon which is sponsored by the Maine Music Teachers Association and open to the public to observe, free, Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin College, 12 Campus Rd, South, Brunswick. FMI: 207-798-4141, www.bowdoin.edu.

Feb. 22, Saturday, 3-5pm, “Artists Reception for Coastal Quilters Exhibit,” view an outstanding collection of quilts and fabric art produced by the talented members of two local guilds: Coastal Quilters of Midcoast Maine and Mt. Battie Modern Quilt Guild. The reception is an opportunity to meet the quilters, learn more about their organizations, and discuss their work, 207-236-3440, librarycamden.org.

Feb. 22, Saturday, 7pm, “Rasa String Quartet,” don’t miss this exquisite and diverse musical evening in the most intimate of settings. Join Rasa String Quartet as they perform a diverse set of folk and classical music, designed to take you through the entire spectrum of human emotions. The first half will include Franz Schubert’s epic and powerful “Death and the Maiden” String Quartet. The second half will be drawn from traditional folk melodies from Appalachia, Ireland, and Scandinavia and will feature world champion fiddler, Maura Shawn Scanlin, $15, Ground Floor, 13 School Street, Freeport. FMI: 207-837-1954, www.groundfloorfreeport.com.

Feb. 22, Saturday, 8pm, “The John Cross Project,” singer songwriter, John Cross, is a smooth resonant baritone from Brunswick Maine. His music spans many genres. He performs as easily on a country stage as he does in blues and rock venues. Along with John Hoff, they perform as the duo The John Cross Project. John Cross models his writing style after Tom T Hall, who once said “Write what you know…”. To know John Cross, all you have to do is listen to his songs. He’s an open book and freely shares his life with you. Just sit back and enjoy, $12/advance, $15/door, Cadenza, 5 Depot Street, Freeport. FMI: www.cadenzafreeport.com.

Feb. 24, Monday, 5:30pm, “’Squaretail’ Book Talk with Bob Mallard,” “Squaretail: The Definitive Guide to Brook Trout and Where to Find Them,” written by Bob Mallard and published this summer by Stackpole Books, is the most complete guide to brook trout ever written. It not only includes information on tackle and techniques but important conservation information and an in-depth section on top brook trout destinations, from Maine to Argentina. The book includes a foreword by renowned conservation writer Ted Williams. A PowerPoint presentation featuring hundreds of photos will accompany and contextualize the talk.  Mallard is a founding member and national vice chair of Native Fish Coalition. Mallard is a Registered Maine Guide, former fly shop owner, fly designer, author, writer, blogger and native fish advocate. He is the publisher, northeast regional editor and a regular contributor to Fly Fish America magazine. His writing, photographs and flies have been featured at the local, regional and national level, free, Freeport Library, 10 Library Drive, Freeport. FMI: 207-865-3307, freeportlibrary.com.