Bywater Call

Bywater Call lands at Patronaat in Haarlem on 29 May 2026. Emerging from Toronto’s scene and built around singer Meghan Parnell and guitarist Dave Barnes, the band performs with a broad lineup in which the rhythm section, keys and—above all—the horns carry the sound. Their mix slides effortlessly between blues rock and southern soul, with R&B and gospel hues and grooves that wink at New Orleans, while a North American classic‑rock foundation remains palpable.

Live, it’s all about drive and dynamics: compact songs get room to build tension, call‑and‑response with the horns and instrumental excursions occur without losing the melody. Parnell’s voice is central—raw and warm at once—while Barnes’s guitar supplies texture and direction. Their 2019 debut put Bywater Call on the map in blues and roots circuits across Canada, Europe and the U.S.; the follow‑up, Remain (2022), deepened that trajectory with contrasting soul ballads, heavier blues‑rock tracks and Americana‑tinged colours.

In Haarlem you can expect a set that shifts between those poles: from slow‑burning grooves to tighter, driving passages, with horn arrangements that tie everything together and give the songs extra depth live.