Bywater Call Brings Southern Soul & Roots Rock to Plymouth!

PLYMOUTH, MA – Prepare for an evening of unparalleled Southern soul, roots rock, and Americana as the critically acclaimed Toronto-based seven-piece, Bywater Call, makes their Plymouth debut at The Spire Centre on May 23. Led by the "powerhouse" vocals of Meghan Parnell, this multiple award-nominated band promises a dynamic and emotional live show that has been captivating audiences across North America and Europe.

Bywater Call has been making significant waves in the blues and roots scene, most recently garnering their second consecutive nomination for the 2025 UK Blues Award for International Blues Artist of the Year, standing alongside esteemed artists like Beth Hart and Walter Trout. They've also collected multiple nominations for US Independent Blues and Canadian Maple Blues Awards, including International Act, Entertainer, Electric Act, and Female Vocalist of the Year. European media have consistently lauded Parnell as one of the best female voices in blues and roots today, a sentiment echoed by At The Barrier, which noted, "Meghan Parnell’s vocals tear into you from the outset … It immediately lets you know why many in the European music media regard her as one of the best blues and roots female vocalists.”

The band's reputation for captivating live shows is well-earned. Jace Media raved, "Bywater Call’s gig was a masterclass in live performance. Their musicality, stage presence, and ability to connect with the audience set them apart as a truly exceptional band." This sentiment is further cemented by My Global Mind, which described their soundscape as "so epic and electric, it ignited – causing hairs to prickle on the backs of people’s necks. …there was no sense of time or place – just the dream that is good music… there is everything to like about this band.”
Comprised of Meghan Parnell (vocals), Dave Barnes (guitar), Bruce McCarthy (drums), Mike Meusel (bass), John Kervin (keys), Stephen Dyte (trumpet), and Julian Nalli (tenor sax), Bywater Call crafts a sound distinctly their own. As Rick Witt of Denver Entertainment Hub observed, "While Parnell’s incredible voice is the centerpiece, it isn’t used to cover up any limitations elsewhere in the band. This group is loaded, top to bottom… so tuned into each other that their music and performance seemed flawless.”

Their latest album, "Shepherd," released last summer, has received widespread critical acclaim, being selected as the Blues Album of the Year by UK's Classic Rock Magazine. Reviewers have called it "magnificent," with Fireworks Magazine declaring it "the kind of music you don’t think people make anymore… nothing short of superb." The album showcases the band's ability to blend rock'n'roll, blues, and Southern soul into an infectious and powerful sound. To accompany their spring tour, Bywater Call also just released their first official live track on digital streaming platforms, giving fans a taste of their dynamic stage presence.

Beyond their studio success, Bywater Call has shared stages with notable artists such as Whitehorse and Tom Cochrane, and Meghan Parnell has even joined renowned pedal-steel guitarist Robert Randolph on stage. The band also recently played their second Joe Bonamassa Keeping the Blues Alive (KTBA) cruise and is slated to appear at the Netherlands' BOSPOP festival in 2025 alongside The Black Keys, Snow Patrol, Beth Hart, and Melissa Etheridge.

This marks Bywater Call's first time performing in Plymouth, and they are eagerly looking forward to connecting with local audiences. "We've been touring in the US for just over two years through Intrepid Artists International and are seeing a very encouraging response to our show," says lead singer Meghan Parnell. "We love to find a way to work together to help promote local venues like these who are willing to take a chance on a 7-piece band from Canada."
Don't miss this opportunity to experience Bywater Call's "sheer musical delight" (Velvet Thunder) as they deliver an evening where "absolutely nothing was left behind" (Dave Atkinson, Get Ready to Rock, UK). Their music, an exploration of life's highs and lows, draws influences from icons like The Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Otis Redding, promising a journey through the human experience delivered with raw soul and masterful musicianship.

Event Details:

• Who: Bywater Call
• When: Thursday, May 23
• Where: The Spire Centre, Plymouth, MA

Bywater Call will also be performing at the Iron Horse in Northampton on May 20 and at Sanctuary Club in Maynard on May 22.