photo by: John Young

Spectators line the south bank of the Kansas River to watch the annual fireworks display Thursday, July 4, 2013.

Readers, if you are anything like us, you are still recovering from last weekend’s whirlwind of festivals and fiestas. Things slow down a bit in LFK for this holiday weekend, but we’ve found plenty of local activities — along with some Ladybird pie and a road trip suggestion — to get you through the holiday.

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Failure, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Thursday, Liberty Hall

A fascinating recent article in Rolling Stone dubs Failure “one of the great unsung alterna-metal bands of the Nineties.” (“Space rock” seems to be another, perhaps more common, description of the band’s sound).

Following a successful recent reunion tour, the cult heroes are back in action with “The Heart is a Monster,” their first new album since 1996, which arrived in stores on Tuesday. Thursday’s show is the first stop on their current tour and a rare chance to indulge in some ’90s nostalgia while still remaining “cool.”

Sundiver opens the show. Visit the Liberty Hall event page here and read Fally Afani’s LJ-World piece on the band here.

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Fourth of July Pie with Ladybird Diner, 3 p.m. Friday on the patio of Ladybird Diner

Perhaps you were thinking that the holiday was going to be a bust without pie from Ladybird, which remains closed because of fire and smoke damage from the Bigg’s BBQ fiasco.

Well, think again, because the lovely folks from Ladybird are taking to the patio this afternoon for a fundraiser. So you’ll get your pie while helping a family “who is facing a challenge that will task every physical, emotional and financial resource available to them.”

Cherry, blueberry, strawberry, rhubarb, and peach are the pies listed on the Facebook event page here. Is Meg leaving out apple, that most American of pies? And how much do they cost? Who cares? It’s pie from Ladybird and you NEED it for the holiday.

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Anger Bob, Friday at Gaslight Garden, at __:00 pm (Your guess is as good as ours).

Observant long-time townies have been on high alert this week since a mysterious Facebook event page popped up touting a holiday weekend show from a band called “Anger Bob.”

Could this be a reunion from a certain beloved ’90s LFK band who got drunk when making the flier and accidentally left off the first letter of their band name? We are told that this is not the case. But does the band share at least _some_members of that former band? This seems a safe bet. (One clue is that opening act Twin Scars is a project from former Danger Bob drummer Kenny Gall).

So what to expect? Danger Bob’s official Facebook page provides a mere tease (“Ghost…Dogs…will rise again”) and the Facebook event page is also scant on details (without so much as a showtime). Nevertheless, fans of DB wouldn’t dare miss out, even if it’s just a new Andy Morton performance art piece where he plays a not-so-successful motivational speaker named “Anger Bob.”

See you at the Gaslight.

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Pre-Dependence Day rock show with People’s Punk Band and more, 9:30 p.m. Friday at Jackpot

Looking for a few bursts of explosive LOUDNESS prior to Saturday night’s fireworks display?
Then stop by Friday’s holiday-themed affair at the Jackpot where People’s Punk Band, Stiff Middle Fingers, Glue Chords, and Denver’s Lawsuit Models “will be tearing the place down brick by brick while we try to get America sloshed for its birthday!”

The cool logo above is from People’s Punk guitarist James Ehlers. Give his awesome engravings a “like” here.

The Facebook event page for the show is here.

photo by: John Young

Spectators line the south bank of the Kansas River to watch the annual fireworks display Thursday, July 4, 2013.

Party in the Parks and fireworks display, Saturday in Watson Park, gates at 4 p.m., music at 5, fireworks about 9:45 p.m.

The official city event for the Fourth of July is, of course, the fireworks display and local restaurant food vendor bash in Watson Park. Visit the Facebook event page here which provides info, including a list of bands that will perform (including local rockers Pink Royal) and a list of participating restaurants. See more about this year’s event in an LJ-World article here.

Many locals, of course, opt to skip the formal event altogether and watch from the levee in North Lawrence. No, we won’t tell you about our personal “secret” spot, but this cool LJ-World piece from last year offers a few alternate suggestions for those who wish to avoid the park.
Above photo via [John Young, LJ-World.

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King Lear at Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, 8 p.m. nightly through July 5 at Southmoreland Park in KC

We often like to include an out-of-town pick for holiday weekends for folks who might need a day or evening’s vacation from LFK.

KC’s beloved annual summer Shakespeare festival draws to a close on Sunday. Abandoning the comedies of recent summers, the Fest has boldly chosen to tackle Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy this time around (sorry, Hamlet, but we — along with many other critics — prefer “King Lear”).

Veteran KC actor John Rensenhouse is getting raves as Lear, and the production is rounded out with numerous other KC veterans, so expect a well-acted descent into madness under the stars. Perhaps a thunderstorm will even rumble in the distance as Lear rages legendarily against a storm? (“Rain protocol” calls for productions to continue unless there is “excessive rain and/or lightning.”).

The official festival website is here.

Tweet us pictures of your Ladybird pie [@LarryvilleLife][20].

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photo by: John Young

Fourth of July fireworks in Watson Park