Indie music initiative in Brockville presents March Mayhem Rockshow

On Saturday, March 7, 2026, Arts Hub Brockville will host ‘Legends Never Die’ March Mayhem Rockshow, celebrating three years of Upperhand Underground (U.U). U.U is a musician-run initiative to highlight and advance local and underground artists and boost Brockville’s music scene.

The event is described as an evening of high-energy live indie rock headlined by the band Double Experience, including performances by The New Hires, and Sun Dried Flies.

Double Experience are an Ottawa-based rock duo co-founded by Brockville native Brock Tinsley and Ian Nichols, influenced musically by bands such as Weezer. The New Hires are an Ottawa-based rock band blending 2000s rock nostalgia with modern indie sounds. Sun Dried Flies are a Prescott-based band showcasing modern grunge-inspired rock.

“Over the past three years we mainly worked to try to create one place where music fans could go to find out what events are happening in Brockville,” wrote U.U founder Janessa van Koppen in an email to Brockvilleist.

“We wanted to foster an community that was interested in attending concerts, jams, etc, so that in the future these events would be more successful.”

Throughout the years, U.U has been connecting artists with promoters and venues looking for talent. They’ve been able to support such acts as Wild Remedy, emmersonHALL, hi, low, and Pebblescapes.

In June of 2023, U.U’s first concert was presented at Arts Hub Brockville with acts Neurotypes, Preloved, Years to Burn (van Koppen’s synth duo) and Salem Mars. In January of 2026, U.U presented their first concert in almost three years, ‘The Cold Spell Gallery Showcase’ with acts Robin Kenny, Heidillium, and Janessa van Koppen. Hosted at Medium Effort Fine Art Supplies, the sold-out show was a resounding success.

“Many artist have reached out to us over the years to perform but the cost and risk to putting on these kinds of events is very high,” van Koppen explained.

“We were extremely grateful to have sold-out the first event we hosted in almost 3 years… and are hopeful that we can make our next just as successful because we are working with acts that are extremely passionate about what they are doing.”

The ‘Legends Never Die’ March Mayhem Rockshow is one of three multi-band shows that will be presented with the support of Brockville Hyundai throughout the year, with smaller scale solo/duo acts shows like ‘The Cold Spell Gallery Showcase’ to fill in between the larger events.

“A big reason that we are doing this is because we selfishly don’t want to always have to travel all the way to Ottawa to go see indie bands,” wrote van Koppen.

“There is so much talent here that needs a platform… We really believe that with a little support Brockville has potential to become known as a destination for music.”

For more information about Brockville’s music scene and to buy tickets for March Mayhem, visit Upperhand Underground’s website here.