Super Furry Animals

Super Furry Animals

Last time Wales’ Super Furry Animals visited Lawrence, the group’s multimedia video and light show almost upstaged its music. Always on the cusp of rock technology, the band brings a gleeful spirit to the sometimes soggy world of Brit-pop, with neo-psychedelic walls of chiming guitars and laptop wizardry. Super Furry Animals will give a free in-store performance at 4 p.m. Saturday at Kief’s Downtown Music, 823 Mass., then join Caribou at 8 p.m. at The Granada, 1020 Mass.

Split Lip Rayfield

The Kennedys

Hillbilly hardcore, post-punk progressive bluegrass, Appalachian Black Sabbath – whatever you call what Split Lip plays, fact is there should be nary a Kansan who doesn’t take pride in this quintessential Kansas freak show. The recently streamlined threesome plays traditional bluegrass instruments (excepting a one-string upright bass fashioned from a gas tank) with fury to whip the whole crowd into a sweaty frenzy. Split Lip Rayfield joins White Ghost Shivers and Dewayn Brothers at 10 p.m. today at The Bottleneck, 737 N.H.

The Kennedys

Syracuse-born Maura Boudreau was hanging out at Austin’s Continental Club, taking a night off from performing with The Delta Rays, when she met Virginia native Pete Kennedy, taking a night off from his duties as lead guitarist for Nanci Griffith. Ten days later, they rendezvoused at Buddy Holly’s grave in Lubbock, and an enduring romance caught fire. The music The Kennedys have created in the years since their 1994 wedding is a reflection of their influences – a mix of Emmylou Harris, Everly Brothers, Byrds and Richard Thompson. The Kennedys perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Unity Church, 9th and Madeline streets.

‘West Side Story’

'West Side Story'

The Sharks and the Jets will rumble again when Free State High School stages “West Side Story” this weekend. The classic musical recasts Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” in New York City, where rival street gangs battle for territory and respect. In the midst of the violence, former Jets leader Tony and Maria, sister to Sharks leader Bernardo, search for a way to keep their love alive. The show opened Thursday, and performances continue at 7:30 today and

Saturday in the auditorium at the school, 4700 Overland Drive. Tickets are

$7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

‘Stuart Little’

'Stuart Little'

Based on the 60-year-old classic by E.B. White and adapted by Joseph

Robinette, the Coterie Theatre’s production of “Stuart Little” follows a mild-mannered mouse on his quest across the American countryside. “It really is a delightful adaptation of the classic book,” says director Ric Averill, who is also director of the Seem-To-Be-Players in Lawrence. “This mouse kind of represents what life is like when you’re little. It really epitomizes childhood: living in a world that is built for people much larger than yourself.” The play opens at 7 p.m. today and continues through Dec. 30 at the theater, 2450 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Mo.