Outdoor concert features Lawrence City Band

The Lawrence City Band will headline the Lied Center’s ninth annual free outdoor concert on Friday, the 141st anniversary of the band’s first concert in Lawrence.

Incidentally, the Aug. 20, 1863, performance preceded the bloody dawn of Quantrill’s Raid. It’s a safe bet contemporary concertgoers won’t have to contend with such mayhem.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. There will be a Family Arts Festival, featuring prize giveaways, balloons, clowns, face painting and other activities for families.

In case of rain, festivities will move inside the Lied Center.

Music

Quantrill’s Raid observed by unusual rock festival

To commemorate the 141st anniversary of Quantrill’s Raid, Lawrence resident Mike McCoy has put together a rather unusual tribute.

Beginning Thursday, the North vs. South: Hard-Pop Rock Band Music Festival will be a musical battleground for seven bands from Minneapolis, Minn., and seven from Austin, Texas, (and a few Kansas stragglers) sharing downtown stages.

The shows will be at two venues during three days: The Replay Lounge, 946 Mass., and across the street at The Jackpot Saloon, 943 Mass. The festival culminates in Saturday’s night finale, which falls on the anniversary of Quantrill’s Raid.

Patrons can purchase a $15 button that will allow them access to every show, or they can just pay a standard cover charge for any single night’s bill.

Sports

Former KU standout to compete in Olympics

Former Kansas University track and cross country star Charlie Gruber will fulfill his Olympic dreams on Friday when he runs in the 1,500 meter preliminaries at 11:35 a.m. The 1,500 semifinals are Sunday, and the finals are Aug. 24.

Olympic coverage will be dominating the airwaves all week, with Gruber the only Jayhawk competing. Former KU coaches Larry Brown and Roy Williams will be working the sidelines, however, coaching the U.S. men’s basketball team.

Education

KU begins fall classes

Thousands of Kansas University students return to Lawrence for the start of fall classes on Thursday.

Until then, Jayhawks old and new will be participating in the 21st annual Hawk Week, a series of academic and social events designed to familiarize students with campus.

Among the highlights are Traditions Night at 8 p.m. today at Memorial Stadium and student convocation at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Lied Center.

In other beginning-of-the-semester news, some KU faculty members will be surprised with $5,000 checks Thursday from the Kemper Teaching Fellowships program, and KU officials will see how they fared in their goal of becoming a Top 25 public university when U.S. News and World Report releases its annual college rankings.