Lego, music and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: 7 events this week

It’s nice when New Mexico gets some positive attention nationally, and Arthur Sze’s appointment as U.S. Poet Laureate was one of the state’s brightest stories of 2025. You can hear him speak this weekend in Albuquerque. Or check out one of these other sparkling events. 

Got an event we should know about? Reach out to features@abqjournal.com.

Brick by brick

The New Mexico Brick Convention is coming to Expo New Mexico from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, and Sunday, Jan. 18. The convention dubs itself as a celebration of all things Lego and will feature professional Lego artists, a hands-on building zone, shopping for kits and minifigs and more. Tickets are $17.70 at brickconvention.com, with children ages 2 and under free. Expo New Mexico is located at 300 San Pedro Dr. NE.

Time to jam

Jamgrass pioneers Leftover Salmon are returning to Albuquerque for the first time in 26 years at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18. Tickets start at $49 at ampconcerts.org. The National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Roy E. Disney Center for Performing Arts: Albuquerque Journal Theatre is located at 1701 Fourth St. SW.

Voices combined

The Doane University Choir will be in concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2801 Lomas Blvd. NE. The concert is free and freewill offerings will be collected to benefit the Doane choral program and the University of New Mexico Lobo Food Pantry.

Getting ‘Fired Up!’

The New Mexico Women’s Chorus will be performing “Fired Up! Songs of Protest and Revolution” in two shows this weekend. The group will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the First Unitarian Church, 3701 Carlisle Blvd. NE; and 4 p.m. Jan. 18, at the First Presbyterian Church of Albuquerque, 215 Locust St. NE. “Fired Up!” will feature music “rooted in resistance, resilience and hope.” Tickets start at $13 at nmwomenschorus.org. NMWC will also be collecting socks, shoes, underwear and laundry supplies for children at Carlos Reyes Elementary.

The people’s poet

The 25th U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze, a resident of Santa Fe, will give a public reading from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Albuquerque Academy’s Simms Auditorium. The event is free. Sze will speak on “his personal journey from science, blending ancient Chinese poetry and Native culture, and his observations of nature and humankind.” A reception and book signing will follow the talk. Simms Auditorium is located at 6400 Wyoming Blvd. NE.

Honoring the dream

In honor of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a commemorative march is taking place on Saturday, Jan. 17. Line up for the procession begins at 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Dr. MLK Avenue and University Boulevard NE, and at 10 a.m. the march to Civic Plaza will start. Aja N. Brooks, president of the State Bar of New Mexico, will be the keynote speaker. Visit nmmlksc.org for more information.

‘Maybe I’m Amazed’

“Live And Let Die: The Music of Paul McCartney Featuring Tony Kishman” is coming to the KiMo Theatre at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17. The concert event features popular McCartney and Beatles hits, including “Hey Jude,” “Penny Lane,” “Live and Let Die” and more. Tickets start at $25 at artsandculture.cabq.gov. The KiMo is located at 423 Central Ave. NW.