“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent” ~Victor Hugo

With all of the beautiful weather we have had this past week, it is pretty much a guarantee that you are ready to spend as much time outside as possible.

There are festivals along the lakefront and around Gaithersburg all summer long. And the best part, they are FREE, so pull up a patch of lawn and enjoy the music. Here are the top spots to find some outdoor music for all ages.

6) Montgomery Village Sunday Lawn Theater Performance

The Montgomery Village Sunday Performances start this Sunday, June 5; through August 21 (please note no concert on Sunday, July 3). The performances are held at South Valley Park, 18850 Montgomery Village Avenue, from 6:00-7:30pm. Parking is behind the Watkins Mill Elementary School. Bands include a 60’s tribute band and a retrospect band. This Sunday, June 5, Montgomery Village presents the Montgomery Village Community Band who will perform show tunes.

5) Gaithersburg Morning Concerts for Kids at the Gaithersburg Concert Pavilion

Grab some snacks, a blanket, lawn chairs and head on over to Gaithersburg on Thursday mornings for their Concert for Kids series. Every Thursday morning until August 11, gather the kids for musical and entertaining performances, which include Mister G and Pepito the Clown - the Baltimore clown whose shows are full of visual comedy, circus skills, and live music. The Gaithersburg Concert Pavilion was dedicated at Olde Towne Gaithersburg Day in September 1997 and serves as a venue for outdoor concerts, movies, theater and other performances. To view the complete Morning Concerts for kid’s lineup, click here.

4) Rio Summer Concerts
Come and enjoy some music every Friday and Saturday night at the Rio Washingtonian Center. The bands perform outside near the paddleboats on the center’s lake. Looking for a relaxing, scenic and festive environment; this is the outdoor concert series for you. The performances begin at 6:00 pm. Save some extra time before or after the concert to visit one of the many restaurants that line the lakefront, including Copper Canyon Grill, Guapo’s Cantina Restaurant & Karma. Check out the complete concert lineup, click here.

3) Summer Concert Series at the Lakefront Plaza
The Lakefront Plaza is located in Rio between Rio Grande and Joe’s Crab Shack. The Lakefront Plaza music series is live music & family fun. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for Rio merchant open houses & special shopping events throughout the Center. Tomorrow night is the return of RIO Concert Series veterans, Gary and the Groove. They perform great songs from the history of rock and roll, plus some 80's pop rock, a little bit of blues rock, and also some Buffett, Bob Marley, and surf music. The series is held every Saturday from 6:30-8:30pm at the Lakefront Plaza. To see the complete lineup, click here.

2) Star Diner’s Summer Concert Series
The Star Diner, located in the Kentland’s, is a 1950s-style diner. They capitalized on their outdoor seating to offer a summer concert series that starts in June and runs through August. The Star Diner's summer concert schedule begins tonight with a performance from 7 – 10pm featuring Platform Soul. Platform Soul specializes in late 70's early 80's Rock.  The Star Diner has plenty of patio seating and a tiki bar.  There is fun for both families and singles. Want to know who will be playing this venue this summer, click here.

1) Gaithersburg Concert Pavilion
This open-air concert pavilion and stage is home to a number of free concerts, performances and movies. The Concert Pavilion presents its On Stage Concert Series with events occurring weekly and starting tonight. Tonight at 7:00pm head to the City Hall Concert Pavilion and rock out with Hard Days Night, a Beatles Tribute Band. The City reports “Hard Day's Night recreates that exciting vision by performing the magical music of the Fab Four, in one of the most authentic, all-live stage tributes to the Beatles seen today.” Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs and a picnic. A parking garage is located across the street from pavilion. Want to see who else will be performing there this summer on Friday and Saturday evenings, click here.  

“LOVE this Beatles tribute band...they are really good”, stated City Recreation Program Supervisor Carolyn Crosby about tonight’s band Hard Days Night.

Slice of Olde Towne was a much-needed addition to the pizza scene in Montgomery County. The thin-crust pizza is fantastic and it’s a nice option to be able to get just a slice or two for the kids, when a whole pie is too much. All the selections on the menu – from chicken tenders and calamari to mozzarella caprese subs and salads and garlic knots – are delicious. Most of all, we’re proud to have Slice of Olde Towne as a neighborhood restaurant, which is drawing people from all over to see the charm of Olde Towne Gaithersburg and helping revitalize the city center.