Bywater Call

Born on the Toronto scene, Bywater Call brings together singer Meghan Parnell and guitarist Dave Barnes in an expanded lineup where rhythm section, keyboards and brass shape a sound that blends blues rock, Southern soul, rhythm and blues influences and touches of gospel. The band draws as much on grooves associated with New Orleans as on a North American classic rock heritage, with a prominent emphasis on brass arrangements and instrumental development in concert. After taking shape in the late 2010s, Bywater Call released a first self‑titled studio album in 2019, which established the project on the blues and roots circuits in Canada and later in Europe and the United States through regular touring. The second album, Remain, released in 2022, continues this aesthetic by accentuating contrasts between soul ballads, denser blues‑rock numbers and songs with Americana hues. On stage as in the studio, Bywater Call develops writing centered on Meghan Parnell’s expressive voice, Dave Barnes’s guitar textures and a collective dynamic in which the brass occupy a central role, anchoring the group between blues traditions and a contemporary approach to roots music.