Weekend Picks: Lawrence Public Library’s 780s Series; Comedy Freakout; free outdoor country music concert; M@ssholes trivia; air guitar in KC

This appears to be a relatively low-key holiday weekend in LFK, nestled between the chaos of last week’s KU graduation and the certain madness of next weekend’s busker festival.

So make the most of it by relaxing with some comedy shows, a free outdoor concert, a cool new music-discussion series featuring Booker T. Jones, or (if you’re feeling more raucous) a short jaunt down the interstate for an air guitar competition.

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780s Series: Talking Music with Booker T. Jones, doors at 6:30 p.m., event at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Liberty Hall

Kick off the weekend early with the debut of Lawrence Public Library’s exciting new “780s Series” of music discussions (nerdily named after the 780 Dewey Decimal System designation for musical subject matter).

Thursday’s first event, a discussion with legendary R&B musician Booker T. Jones of Booker T & the M.G.’s fame, is being held at Liberty Hall. The event is free and no tickets are required, but get there early to secure a good spot to hear LPL director Brad Allen quiz Booker T. about “Green Onions” and much more.

Check out Fally Afani’s Lawrence.com pre-event interview with Jones and Allen here, and visit the Facebook event page here.

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Jason Boland and the Stragglers free outdoor show, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Thursday, outside the Granada

Want to see a side of Lawrence that scenesters don’t often witness? Want to see it for free? Step into the lot beside the Granada on Thursday evening for a free outdoor show by popular Oklahoma red-dirt country artists Jason Boland and the Stragglers.

We were (briefly) on hand for a packed show by Boland in this very same lot a few years back and were impressed by the number of country music fans on hand. Biemer’s BBQ is one of the sponsors, and they’ll presumably be dishing up some tasty grub while you cry into your beer at some country weepers.

(Note: In a wonderful bit of cultural juxtaposition, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will be playing inside at the Granada at the same time. These events may provide the week’s best people-watching).

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Comedy Freakout, 10 p.m. Friday, Frank’s North Star Tavern

Stuck in LFK on Memorial Day weekend and in need of cheering up? Or maybe you hate the idea of holiday weekend camping and much prefer a dark, booze-filled basement full of people making awkward jokes. Either way, find your way to Frank’s North Star as the Comedy Freakout gang returns with a new evening of “pure comedy mayhem and flashing lights.”

This installment is an all-local edition (perhaps no touring headliners wanted to visit LFK on Memorial Day weekend?) but it’s chock-full of some of your favorite local jokesters and hosted, as ever, by ringleaders Peter Lyrene and Chance Dibben.

The Facebook event page is here.

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M@ssholes, 8 p.m. Saturday, Eagle’s Lodge

If you miss the anarchic spirit and LFK-insider references of the old Victor Continental shows, the M@ssholes “pop culture and trivial panel” show may be the event for you. Expect an endless stream of Payless Furniture jokes (obviously), and the M@ssholes’ gang also promises to get to the bottom of the “Great Smokehouse Fire of ’15.”

Audience members can usually win delicious “Brownies for Townies” by answering questions at these events, but this installment has an amazing new twist: Ladybird Diner will be providing “Candyass Donuts.” Do NOT miss out.

Visit the Facebook event page here.

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2015 US Air Guitar KC Qualifier, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Record Bar

We don’t often showcase out-of-town events here, but it’s a holiday weekend and maybe you’re craving a short trek to KC for a night of debauchery. If so, your best bet is this wild throwdown of air guitar hijinks hosted by LFK’s own WORLD air guitar champ Eric “Mean” Melin and judged by KC radio personality Afrenta. The four KC winners move on to the Midwest finals in Chicago, and all roads eventually lead to the Nationals (this year in Portland).

Air guitar is a bigger deal than you think, folks. We’re still scarred from some of the things we witnessed last year at the Midland when KC hosted the Nationals. If you haven’t seen an air guitar/performance art piece from Peter “Stiff” Dickens, you haven’t fully lived.

Visit the Facebook event page here.

Tweet us @LarryvilleLife and enjoy the holiday.