It’s graduation weekend for KU students, a time in which many scenesters stock up on groceries and batten down the hatches at home to avoid the glut of out-of-towners in local bars and restaurants.

But the five (mostly musical) weekend picks below should provide a dose of culture while still keeping you largely cloistered away from the invading hordes.

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Nepal Earthquake Relief Benefit Concerts, 6-10 p.m. Thursday at Gaslight; 7-11 p.m. Sunday at Liberty Hall

We try to showcase worthy fundraisers as often as possible, and this weekend’s dual concerts to raise money for earthquake relief are good chances to help out while checking out some tunes. Is there any band more prolific in Lawrence right now than the Sugar Britches? And who is the “special guest” band at the Liberty show? And who are all these other bands that we don’t know? Pick up tickets at Zen Zero, Genovese, or Liberty Hall and search for answers to these questions at the Gaslight on Thursday and Liberty on Sunday.

Patrick Duegaw “Innumerable Anxieties” art opening and talk, Friday and Saturday, Lawrence Arts Center, opening at 7 p.m. Friday and Art Talk at 1 p.m. Saturday

Can’t wait for the next Final Friday to get a dose of art? The Arts Center has you covered this weekend with a cool new opening from Patrick Duegaw on Friday.

Duegaw co-founded the important Wichita collective Fisch Haus in 1990, a project “originally conceived as a series of hit-and-run exhibition/performance events that transformed abandoned spaces in downtown Wichita, Kansas into art happenings.” (from Duegaw’s website bio).

Among many other works, the LAC exhibit will include an awesome “28-foot long panoramic rendering” of The Fisch Haus. Check out a nice LJWorld profile of Duegaw here. You can also find Facebook event pages for Friday’s opening here and Saturday’s art talk here.

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Spring Into Summer Fest, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, Replay Lounge

Local scenesters tend to steer clear of hugely popular local festivals like the Kansas Food Truck Fest and the Busker Fest for various reasons: too many tourists, too many crowds, too many buskers! But the Replay’s annual Spring Into Summer Fest is tailor-made for townies and, in fact, was created partly as a celebration of students vacating town for the summer. While the “festival” designation is a bit dubious, the event itself is always an excellent long evening of rock and roll, a safe haven amidst the maelstrom of KU’s graduation weekend.

Most of the event consists of familiar local faces such as OILS, Psychic Heat and Arc Flash, but don’t overlook the evening’s touring highlight (slated for 8 p.m. on the patio): an appearance by the legendary Joe Jack Talcum from The Dead Milkmen.

Visit the Facebook event page here for a full list of bands and set times. And check out Lawrence.com’s interview with Arc Flash here.

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Heidi Lynne Gluck EP release party with Bonzo Madrid, 7 p.m. Saturday, Love Garden

Local music fans may be more recently accustomed to seeing Heidi Lynne Gluck quietly strumming pretty rock songs (and the occasional Cheap Trick cover) as a solo artist. But Saturday offers a chance to hear her in full-band form at the Love Garden in celebration of her new EP “The Only Girl in the Room.” Opening up is Bonzo Madrid, a new(ish) project from former Cowboy Indian Bear member CJ Calhoun, who sent us this little tale about his first encounter with Heidi.

“The first time I met Heidi, I had just stumbled upon her band playing at the Jackpot. I really enjoyed her songs and wanted to tell her thanks for a good set. We talked briefly and she asked me what instrument I played in my band, to which I answered something to the effect of “Oh, mostly guitar, but also a little bass and synth. We switch around instruments quite a bit.” She looked at me and said “Oh you’re one of those bands.” Jokingly (I think?!) So I’m very excited to get to help her celebrate the release of her new EP, and also excited to prove to Heidi & myself, years later, that I can in fact play a set (mostly) on one instrument. If that doesn’t get your blood pumping for some live music, I don’t know what will.”

Visit the Facebook event page here for set times.

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Clowder, 9 p.m. Saturday, Frank’s North Star Tavern

We recently wrote a piece about the debut show of the aforementioned all-female bluegrass band called The Sugar Britches, who have since become one of LFK’s favorite and most prolific bands. Is the same meteoric success story in the works for the new rock/funk/soul trio Clowder? Perhaps not. But the fact that they love cats, as evidenced in their band name and flier, bodes well for at least some potential Internet fame! (A “clowder,” if you don’t know, is a group of cats).

Band member Cody Case submitted this short blurb for Saturday’s gig at Frank’s:

“Clowder is a new Lawrence-based guitar and vocal trio that plays originals and covers that range from mellow rock to blues to folk to soul. Their sweet melodies, harmonies, and solos will serenade and warm you to the core. Check out a live original at this link and come hang with these new cats to meow the night away at Frank’s North Star Tavern.”

See, it’s all about the cats!

Give Clowder a “like” on Facebook here and visit the Facebook event page here to get more details on the show, which also includes a late-night set from Cupcake, another cute-sounding band that’s actually a harder rocking guitar/drums duo (but still cute).

Until next week, tweet us @LarryvilleLife.