Lawrence.com

Sure, there's a ton of great music this weekend. Local acts and some emerging national artists will peddle their sounds across town. But there are also some interesting lectures that will help you work that brain muscle. Know of any Best Bets we're missing? Tweet 'em to us: @lcom.

Thursday activism: Lawrence LGBT Summit @ Maceli's

Part activist summit-part candidate forum, this event focuses on issues affecting Lawrence's LGBT population. Speakers will hit on topics ranging from faith and culture to race and family. Local candidates have been invited to mingle, starting at 6:30 at Maceli's, 1031 New Hampshire.

Thursday lecture: Clover Adams: A Gilded and Heartbreaking Life @ Hall Center for Humanities

Why did acclaimed 19th century photographer take her own life by drinking a chemical developer from her darkroom? Natalie Dykstra, Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society and associate professor of English at Hope College in Holland, Mich., takes us through Adams' life, explaining how she went from a rising star to a torn soul in three years. The lecture starts at 7:30.

Thursday music: The Fresh Onlys and Swayback @ Jackpot

"Hailing from San Francisco's vital garage rock scene, psychedelic-pop outfit The Fresh & Onlys distinguished themselves from their peers with powerful songcraft in addition to the requisite level of fuzz." Check out the rest of Chance Dibben's preview of the show, which starts at 8.

Daughn Gibson with the Hips and Y(our) F(riend) @ Replay

Sub Pop artist Daughn Gibson brings a trippy, ethereal sound punctuated by a deep baritone that calls to mind Urge Overkill. He hits up the Replay with local indies the Hips and the up-and-coming, Bon Iver-esque Y(our) F(riend).

Friday music: KC Bear Fighters @ Replay

Ukes, banjos and good ol' drunken sing alongs mark the KC Bear Fighters' sound. This matinee show kicks off at 6.

Friday music: Radio Romantica @ Gaslight Gardens

An acoustic show at the intimate Gaslight.

This is not Radio Romantica, but it would be funny if it were.

Saturday music: Matt & Kim @ Liberty Hall

Brooklyn-based DIYers Matt & Kim bring lo-fi anthems and head-bobbing melodies. They might even strip down to their birthday suits, as they did in their "Lessons Learned" video. Probably not, though.

Sunday lectures: The Adventures of Lewis Lindsay Dyche and the Advent of Kansas Conservationism @ Spooner Hall

This photo, showing Lewis Lindsay Dyche aboard a shipping vessel, will be part of Kansas University’s Natural History Museum’s upcoming exhibit about Dyche, who was a conservationist and an explorer among other occupations. KU’s Dyche Hall is named after him. Photo courtesy of Kansas University Archives.

Lewis Lindsay Dyche was the original Most Interesting Man in the world. He traveled the globe, bringing back exotic plants and animals back to Lawrence. They became to Dyche Natural History Museum on campus. Historian Bill Sharp will dissect Dyche's legacy, and actor Chris Roady will interpret his life. See Matt Erickson's story on Dyche here.