A propulsive character study of a flawed and fascinating folk artist, Lydi Conklin's debut novel Songs of No Provenance explores issues of trans nonbinary identity, queer baiting and appropriation, kink, fame hunger, secrecy and survival, and the question of whether a work of art can exist separately from its artist.
Come join us for a night of readings and conversation with Lydia featuring live music from Kafari, Little Busy, Aidan Boardman, Hannah Matthews, and more. Drinks and mocktails, as well as books sold by Back Cove Books.
Doors open at 6:30 PM. Show starts at 7:00 PM.
RSVP for a free ticket.
Lydi Conklin
Lydi Conklin is an Assistant Professor of Fiction at Vanderbilt University. Previously they were the Helen Zell Visiting Professor in Fiction at the University of Michigan. They’ve received a Stegner Fellowship in Fiction at Stanford University, a Rona Jaffe Writer’s Award, four Pushcart Prizes, a grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation, a Creative & Performing Arts Fulbright to Poland, and fellowships from MacDowell, Yaddo, Djerassi, Hedgebrook, Sewanee, Bread Loaf, the James Merrill House, the Vermont Studio Center, VCCA, Millay, Jentel, Lighthouse Works, Brush Creek, Caldera, the Sitka Center, and Harvard University, among others. They were the 2015-2017 Creative Writing Fellow in fiction at Emory University. Their fiction has appeared in The Paris Review, One Story, American Short Fiction, VQR, and elsewhere. They have drawn graphic fiction for Lenny Letter, Drunken Boat, and the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago and cartoons for The New Yorker and Narrative Magazine. Their story collection, Rainbow Rainbow, was longlisted for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Award and The Story Prize. Their novel, Songs of No Provenance, was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.
Kafari
'Kafari' is the alias of Cincinnati-born, Portland, Maine based pianist and rhythm bones-wielding beatmaker Ahmad Muhammad. His warm, soulful sound synthesizes his love of ambient piano music, spiritual jazz, experimental hip-hop and dreamlike electronic textures. Kafari's 2026 album 'Autumn's Kiss' is the artist's most refined work to date from his ten album catalogue, highlighting his unique interests across piano music, ambient music and beatmaking.
Little Busy
For nearly 20 years, Little Busy has approached songwriting as a way to make sense of the learning and longing that comes with growing up. At the center of the project is Kraus, formerly of the folk duo Hannah & Maggie. Kraus shines as a storyteller on eight full-length albums recorded since 2009, mapping a heartfelt archive of the uncountable landscapes between places like Chicago, New York City and the rolling hills of Western Massachusetts.
Kraus’s debut EP, “Leverett,” is a jovial hometown ode written and recorded in the hills of rural Massachusetts, while their most recent record, “Long Night!”, feels like a lovingly painted picture book of what’s possible when we let ourselves try again.
Since they began touring in 2010, Kraus has shared the stage with artists like Dar Williams, And the Kids, as well as Ben Taylor. They have been featured in Curve Magazine and were named one of the “100 People We Love” by GO Magazine.
Kraus was one of several national finalists in the Mountain Stage New Song Contest and has performed in venues such as Lincoln Center, the Connecticut Folk Festival and the Academy of Music. Kraus is honored to be included in one of LCA’s artistic offerings for the 2025 summer season.
Aidan Boardman
Aidan Boardman is a life-long musician from Lewiston/Auburn, ME. Before, during, and after earning a Bachelor’s in Music Education at Ithaca College, he has been writing, performing and teaching music (voice, guitar, ukulele, piano) for folks of all ages. Aidan currently resides in Portland, where he teaches general elementary music in the Portland Public Schools. Recordings produced by Aidan can primarily be found under the pseudonyms Anguid, and Dreamt.
Lana Cooney
Lana is a musician and small business owner originally from Montreal, QC and currently based in Portland, ME. She is a founding member of Caveboy (Montreal), a touring member of No Joy (Montreal), and drummer in Finger Food (Portland).
Hannah Matthews
Hannah Matthews (she/her) is an author, essayist, poet, and bookseller/indie bookstore marketing coordinator. Her debut book, You or Someone You Love (Atria Books, 2023), was a finalist for the New England Book Award, a Kirkus-starred title, and was named the American Library Association's RISE Feminist book of the year. Her second book, Sweet-Blooded, is forthcoming from Beacon Press in 2027. Her writing has appeared in TIME Magazine, The Guardian, Esquire, Vogue, Literary Hub, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, ELLE, Jezebel, The Rumpus, Electric Literature, and more publications. She lives in Maine with her family.