Friday, April 7
The 9th annual Back Cove Contemporary Music Festival kicks off tonight at Woodfords Church (202 Woodford St., Portland) at 7:30 p.m. with the premiere performance of a string-quartet piece by recently departed Maine composer Elliott Schwartz. Organist Harold Stover and others also pay tribute to Schwartz, and the fest continues through the weekend with an engaging lineup of avant-garde and chamber music, spoken-word and jazz. Tix: $15 (students free). Full schedule at portlandconservatoryofmusic.org.