Go North Music Festival fans, rejoice!
The festival committee has officially released the 2025 music lineup.
This year’s festival kicks off Thursday night, July 24, 2025, at the Richards Landing Centennial Grounds’ Timber Stage. The main festival day is Saturday, July 26 featuring a line-up of all-Canadian talent headlined by Big Sugar.
For more information, including the full lineup, see the press release below.
ST. JOSEPH ISLAND - The Go North Music Festival committee is excited to release our full 2025 lineup!
St. Joseph Island’s Go North Music Festival is a proud supporter of Canadian music artists, bringing our audience live music by established and emerging bands since 2017. This year’s festival kicks off Thursday night, July 24, 2025, at the Richards Landing Centennial Grounds’ Timber Stage with a double-shot of Alternative Country music. Nicolette and The Nobodies kicks things off with their blend of outlaw country, retro Western music from Hamilton, Ontario. Next, The Brothers G, bring a combination of blues and all-out intensity of rock 'n roll with the songwriting sensibilities of Americana and alternative country all the way from the heart of Saskatchewan.
As part of the Richards Landing Community Night celebrations on the evening of Friday July 25th, Go North is sponsoring a Country and Western dance with Easy Country! Enjoy the parade, games, food and pie at the Centennial Grounds, then join us downtown at the Marina for the annual boat parade and live rock band, then make your way up the street for the dance at the Old Town Hall. While all other Friday events are free, the dance is a ticketed event and space in the Old Town Hall is limited, so make sure to get your tickets soon!
The main festival day is Saturday July 26 back at the Centennial Grounds, with gates opening at 3:30 p.m. featuring a fantastic line-up of all-Canadian talent.
Bring the kids (12 and under are free!) and check out The Thinking Caps on the Timber Stage next to the Family Zone. The Thinking Caps are a fun, interactive and entertaining family-friendly rock 'n roll band, hailing from London, Ontario.
The Go North Main Stage will feature five great bands, with great views from the shady hill, or front and centre!
Ontarians will lead off the Saturday line-up. Befitting their name, Ontarians have an alt-‘Canadiana’ sound that could only come from a group of guys raised on a steady diet of Neil Young, The Band, Blue Rodeo and The Tragically Hip. Co-founded by local music scene standout, Frank Deresti, together with Collingwood’s Craig Smith, Ontarians have two albums under their belt, with their latest, More How It Is, released in the fall of 2024.
Following our tradition of bringing in great emerging Canadian talent, don’t miss Toronto’s Chloë Doucet. With songs described as “jangly, incandescent and unapologetically catchy tunes” and “classic, guitar-driven rock & roll”, Doucet is fresh off a year spent opening for Canadian indie legend Hayden and touring with Cuff the Duke.
Ottawa-based four-piece, Boston Levi takes to the main stage next with their mix of arena-ready rock with alt-country flourishes and pop elements processing the trials and tribulations of the human experience with a soaring sound and down-to-Earth lyricism. Boston Levi has toured supporting The Glorious Sons, and previous Go North favourites Bleeker, The Trews and Texas King.
Julianna Riolino brings an energetic and eclectic mix of roots rock, alt-country, indie-punk and cosmic-country. Originally from Welland Ontario, Riolino has honed her music, song-writing and touring previously a member and supporting act for another Go North alum, Daniel Romano’s Outfit, and now as a solo artist. Riolino began releasing music with singles in 2019 and 2020, followed by her debut album “All Blue” in 2022 and more recently the single “Against the Grain” in 2024.
Go North’s 2025 Headliner is legendary Canadian power-trio, Big Sugar. Since their 1993 debut, “500 Pounds”, Big Sugar has been a staple on the airwaves and highways. Big Sugar’s roots/rock/reggae style led by Gordie Johnson's signature guitar has influenced generations of guitarists with favourites like 'Diggin A Hole', 'If I Had My Way', 'Turn the Lights On' and 'Roads Ahead'. With fans like Joe Satriani and Jack White (who’s Third Man Records recently released a vinyl deluxe of “500 Pounds”), Big Sugar has built a loyal following, earning them a Road Gold Award as they continue to sell out concerts across North America.
Tickets and information for Go North 2025 can be found at gonorthmusicfestival.ca.