Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
“An astonishing display of joy, energy, and camaraderie. Bywater Call are one of the most exciting bands of the moment.” – Bluestown Music
“Some of the most heart-lifting & utterly exciting music I’ve heard in ages.” – Music News
“This band is heading for much bigger stages.” – Blues Matters
On Friday, January 9th, Canadian Roots, Rock, and Soul band Bywater Call are excited to announce the release of their first studio single of 2026, “Only.”
The single is available on all streaming platforms via – https://linktr.ee/bywatercall.
“Only” is a throwback to the timeless soul anthems of the 60’s and 70’s. Featuring Meghan Parnell’s signature smokey vocals and a smooth, slow groove, this losing-of-love song is a heartfelt plea to remain together, while attempting to downplay the pain of breaking up.
The emotional melody, accompanied by the rich background vocals of Joanna Mohammed (Aphrose) and Claire Davis, captures perfectly the feeling of loving more than being loved.
Reminiscent of the classic artists of the genre, “Only” is infused with modern influences such as Adele and Amy Winehouse.
“Only is a simple, yet emotionally powerful tune,” says guitarist and co-writer Dave Barnes. “It shows off a sweet, softer side of Meg’s usual powerhouse vocals.”
The song was recorded at Palace Studios in Toronto, captured and mixed by Patric McGroarty, and mastered by Kristian Montano of Montano Mastering.
“This seven-piece powerhouse outfit proves with this astonishing display of joy, energy and camaraderie that they are without a doubt one of the most exciting bands of the moment.” – Bluestown Music
“A living, breathing testament to what happens when a band catches fire, led by a vocalist who doesn’t just perform but preaches the blues. Bywater Call isn’t following the tradition, they’re pushing it forward one electrical show at a time.” – Blues Matters
Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members.
In their August 2024 issue, Classic Rock made Bywater Call’s 2024 album Shepherd their “Blues Album of the Month” and said it was “an inventive and uncommonly catchy record,” and added, “the sense of a band on the brink is unmistakable.” The album won “Top Blues Album of the Year” in the magazine’s year-end round-up.
In early 2025 Bywater Call received a nomination at the UK Blues Awards for “International Act of the Year” for the second year in a row.
The band will be on tour throughout Europe, the USA and Canada in 2026.
2026 TOUR DATES **More dates to be announced
More info: www.bywatercall.com
CANADA AND USA
Jan 22 | New Orleans, LA | Folk Alliance International
Jan 31 | Erin, ON | The Busholme
Feb 26 | Burlington, ON | Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Mar 20 | Safety Harbor, FL | SHAMc
Mar 21 | Boca Raton, FL | Funky Biscuit
Mar 25-29 | Miami, FL | Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea
Apr 2 | Hagerstown, MD | Live at Hub City Vinyl
Apr 3 | Tuckerton, NJ | Lizzie Rose Music Room
Apr 4 | New York, NY | Iridium
Apr 23| Syracuse, NY | 443 Club at the Hosmer Auditorium
Apr 25 | Drummondville. QC | Maison des arts Desjardins Drummondville
EUROPE
14-May | Dudenhofen Germany | Kulturverein Dudenhofen
15-May | Rimsting Germany | Feuerwehrhaus
16-May | Affalter Germany | Zur Linde
17-May | Regensburg Germany | VAZ Pfarrheim
19-May | Norderstedt Germany | Music Star
20-May | Bremen Germany | Meisenfrei
21-May | Werchter Belgium | Blue Rooster
22-May | Weert Netherlands | De Bosuil
23-May | Unna Germany | Lindenbrauerei
24-May | Raalte Netherlands | Ribs & Blues Festival
26-May | Leiden, Netherlands | Qbus
27-May | Verviers Belgium | Spirit of 66
28-May | Krefeld Germany | Kulturrampe
29-May | Haarlem Netherlands | Patronaat
30-May | Tilburg Netherlands | Heyhoef
31-May | Aalten Netherlands| LSA Music
2-Jun | Arnstadt Germany | Kulisse
3-Jun | Aschaffenburg Germany| Colos-Saal
4-Jun | Köln Germany | Die Kantine / Freideck
5-Jun | Luxemburg Luxemburg | Blues Club
6-Jun | Riotord France | Climax Club Legend
7-Jun | Le Thor France | Sonograf
9-Jun | Chambery France | Brin de Zinc
13-Jun | Penmarch France | God Save The Kouign Festival
ABOUT BYWATER CALL
Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members. A powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock outfit from Toronto, Canada; the band is comprised of Meghan Parnell (vocals), Dave Barnes (guitar), Bruce McCarthy (drums), Mike Meusel (bass), newest member, Andrew Moljgun (keys), Stephen Dyte (trumpet), and Julian Nalli (tenor sax).
Bywater Call was nominated for the “2025 UK Blues Award” for “International Blues Artist of the Year” for the second consecutive year, alongside artists including Beth Hart and Walter Trout. The band has also received multiple Independent “Blues and Canadian Maple Blues Award” nominations including “Entertainer,” “Electric Act,” and “Best Female Vocalist” at the 2024 Awards Season.
In March, Bywater Call played their second Joe Bonamassa “Keeping the Blues Alive” cruise, featuring headliners Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Larkin Poe. In 2025, they play the Netherland’s BOSPOP Festival alongside the likes of the Black Keys, Warren Haynes Band, Marcus King, and Blackberry Smoke.
The band has opened for Canadian award-winning musicians Whitehorse and Tom Cochrane, and singer Meghan has joined renowned pedal-steel guitarist Robert Randolph on stage at his request.
Their newest studio album Shepherd was selected as the Blues Album of the Year by UK’s Classic Rock Magazine. Band leaders Meghan Parnell and Dave Barnes were featured on the cover of Blues in Britain in January of 2025. Their 2025 live album Sunshine was released in August 2025 to rave reviews.
In 2024 alone, the band played 140 shows across 10 countries. Bywater Call’s music is an exploration of life’s highs and lows. From intimate ballads that lay bare the complexities of human emotion to electrifying anthems that demand to be played at full volume, their catalogue is a journey through human experience, featuring influences from the likes of The Band, The Wood Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Otis Redding, Little Feat, Sly and the Family Stone, and many more.
Photography by Simon Green
