Canadian rock blues band Big Sugar has been announced as this year's headliner for the seventh annual Go North Music Festival.
Hosted at the Centennial Fairgrounds in Richards Landing on St. Joseph Island, the 2025 edition of Go North happens July 24 through 26.
The festival opens on Thursday evening with a country concert on the Timber Stage.
Friday features the Richards Landing Community Night that includes food and refreshments, games and activities, and the Boat Parade of Lights at the marina.
On Saturday, gates open for the Go North Music Festival at 3:30 p.m. with music starting at 4 p.m. Big Sugar will close the show and the rest of the entertainment roster will be announced soon.
Early bird tickets are on sale now. The first 200 ticket buyers can use the promo code BIGSUGAR2025 to get the early bird price of $60 per ticket.
Full festival details are outlined in the news release below:
St. Joseph Island’s Go North Music Festival has announced its Headliner for its seventh annual festival set for July 24-26, 2025. This year will feature an incredible group of Canadian talent led by Saturday night’s headliner, BIG SUGAR! Since the 90's Big Sugar have been a staple on the airwaves and built a following with songs like Diggin A Hole, If I Had My Way, Turn The Lights On and Roads Ahead featuring Gordie Johnson’s signature guitar playing have built a loyal following, earning Big Sugar a Road Gold Award as they continue to sell out concerts across North America.
The festival is entering year seven with fan feedback leading to some fun new elements and exciting changes to the format. With Go North once again coinciding with the Richards Landing Community night, we are offering three nights of music and fun!
The festival kicks off Thursday night at the Centennial Grounds with a Country concert with two great original Country acts on the Timber Stage.
Friday Night, the Richards Landing Community Night is held at the Centennial Grounds, with the food vendors, fresh baked pie, games and the parade, all in support of the Matthews Memorial Hospital NSHN Auxiliary to help provide equipment for the Hospital. As the sun sets and games end, move down to the waterfront Marina for the Boat Parade of Lights, FREE live concert of Rock covers. As the Boat Parade winds down, take a short walk up the street for a Country and Western dance at the Old Town Hall with Easy Country! Tickets will be limited tickets for this crowd favourite!
Saturday, the Go North Music Festival gates open at 3:30 p.m. featuring a fantastic line-up of Canadian talent starting at 4 p.m. until BIG SUGAR closes the show.
Early bird online tickets for Saturday July 26, 2025 go on sale Friday, Jan. 31 at 9 a.m.! Use this promo code BIGSUGAR2025 to get the early bird price of $60 (First 200 tickets ONLY!). After Early bird sales end, tickets are $65 for advance for Saturday, and $20 for Friday Night’s Easy Country Dance at the Old Town Hall and $40 for the Thursday Night Country Concert at the Centennial Grounds.
Thursday and Saturday Admission for kids 12 and under is free, and for youth 13 to 18 years old and 19-25 with valid student ID, student rates apply. Camping is available for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in the festival campground. Tickets are available online or at the gate. Check the website for updates and FAQs - www.gonorthmusicfestival.ca.
New to the Go North Music Festival?
The Go North Music Festival is a family-friendly event, featuring a variety of talented and critically acclaimed musical acts from across Canada, local artisans, ice cold beverages, and delicious food (including gluten-free and vegan options).
The festival site, The Richards Landing Centennial Grounds, is a lush green space, nestled in the centre of old-growth maple trees. The space was built for large events and offers wide-open spaces and room to stretch out and make a zone for you and your crew.
Saturday there are activities for kids and a kid’s stage with performances by children’s entertainer The Thinking Caps. The family zone will feature interactive exhibits by Science North and has games, crafts, and a giant community mural project families can help with.
Plan your weekend to include overnight camping. Available Thursday - Saturday night. Hit the beach, do some shopping, grab a meal or an ice cream, visit an attraction, or enjoy the trails between performances. Join the campground Fireside Jam after hours.
Stay tuned for more details at www.gonorthmusicfestival.ca