The newly formed 1000 Islands Music Coalition is bringing a week of musical performances and workshops to Brockville, Ontario, from April 15 to April 19, 2026. This preview event serves as a first look at a larger music festival the group plans to launch in the region this September.
The coalition was created through a partnership between 1000 Islands House Concerts, led by Amanda Keeley, and Antidote Artists, managed by Patch Twaddle. The upcoming preview week features a variety of performances and opportunities for local artists to engage with the music community.
The events begin on April 15 with a 7:00 p.m. house concert featuring Nova Scotia artist Kristen Martell, who won the Prix de l’Acadie at the 2025 Music Nova Scotia Awards and is known for her folk-pop style, and award-winning singer-songwriter Kevin Head from Gananoque. On April 16, a festival edition of the Community Jam open mic, known as Live From The Mic, will take place at 7:00 p.m. While the event is free to watch, participants must pre-register to secure a performance slot.
A Nashville-style Songwriters in the Round performance is set for April 18 at Arts Hub Brockville, located in the historic St. John’s United Church at 32 Park Street. The 6:30 p.m. event will be hosted by Ottawa-based musician and producer Jim Bryson and will include performances by Amanda Keeley, OK Naledi, and Matt Bazinet. The week concludes on April 19 with a Songwriters Retreat and Collaborative Workshop, hosted by Keeley and facilitated by Bryson, which focuses on wellness and collaborative songwriting.
This initiative is supported by Upperhand Underground, a community initiative currently celebrating its third year of promoting local and underground music in Brockville. Organizers hope these events will help establish a permanent annual music festival for the 1000 Islands region.
