Road to Go North: Angelina Napolitano's story inspired a song from this Toronto songwriter

In preparation for the third installment of the annual Go North Music Festival on St. Joseph Island, SooToday reached out to the participating artists to have a little fun getting to know these hard working musicians.

Next up on our Road to Go North series, we meet Skye Wallace from Toronto.  

What are your three favourite things about touring northern Ontario?

• My dad is from Timmins, so I spent a good amount of time travelling through Ontario growing up. It feels familiar and it’s beautiful and wild and the people really know how to have a good time and appreciate live music.

What are three ways you battle through bug season in northern Ontario?

• This is hard because I pretty much always wear shorts on stage. But long sleeves, bug spray, and lemongrass essential oil do the trick! Or at least help to not get eaten alive.

What are the three most important things to pack for festival season?

• Water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat! Last year my family brought water bottles that had spinning fans on them that you sprayed the water through??? I think maybe that would be a new favourite.

What are your top three road trip listening essentials?

• Love a good podcast (big fan of Stuff You Should Know and any true crime podcasts), some pre-downloaded albums, some good nostalgic 90s jams.

What are your three favourite ways to pass time on a long tour?

• My band and I are like a cute and weird little family so we often spend a lot of time just hanging out. I love being able to see the places we’re going through so exploring and walking around is always a good option. I also love a good book on tour.

What are your three favourite Ontario skinny dipping spots?

• Hm. My aunt and uncle have a cottage near Bobcaygeon, that’s pretty sweet. Otherwise the lakes near Fort Frances and Kenora are my tops!

What are your three favourite Ontario craft brews?

• Big fan of Blood Brothers, Signal Brewing, and I had the chance to try Outspoken Brewery beer last time I was through town, and I love it!

What are your three favourite topics to read about?

• Lately I’ve been really into reading in French and getting my language skills back from when I was in school. I’m also very into beatnik-era writing and also absurd fiction like Tom Robbins. I usually don’t like music non-fiction, but both Patti Smith and Kim Gordon have really done it for me with their writing.

Besides being a musician, what are three skills you'd like to learn?

• Knitting for sure, I’d love to be able to make winter clothes. And I’d love to learn a new language (maybe German?), and maybe be able to do chin ups some day.

What are three things you know about St. Joseph Island and/or Sault Ste. Marie?

• I’ve got some cool way-back family connection, as some of our family moved from Italy, settled in Sault Ste. Marie, then ended up in Timmins eventually. Also, The story of Angelina Napolitano and her historical struggle as a survivor of domestic abuse really moved me. This occurred in Sault Ste Marie in 1911. I actually wrote a song about it; we’ll be playing Swing Batter at the festival for sure.

The Go North Music Festival is a one-day event held in Richards Landing on St. Joseph Island on July 13.

Headlining the 2019 lineup is the Juno award-winning blues/country artist Crystal Shawanda. Also included on the entertainment roster are Birds of Bellwoods (alt-rock), Sun K (rock), Skye Wallace (folk-rock), Sarah Smith (singer-songwriter), and Another Crush (indie rock), as well as local acts Jesse Merineau (indie pop-rock) and Dustin Jones and The Rising Tide (celtic punk rock).

Other festival highlights include food vendors, locally-crafted beer, and local artisans and producers. In addition to the main stage, there will be activities for kids and a kids stage with performances by the main stage acts (kids 12 and under are admitted to the festival for free).

Overnight camping will again be available for tents and trailers with an additional night of camping available on the Friday night before the festival.

Full festival details and ticket information can be found here.