BYWATER CALL - NEW SINGLE – “ROLL” RELEASED FRIDAY 19th APRIL 2024
News
“It is rare to find such good songwriting and such strong arrangements in a style that is known for its jams coming to life approach … Bywater Call is the best of both worlds. With – and I cannot emphasize this enough – fantastic vocals.”- Kevy Metal
Canadian Roots, Rock, and Soul band Bywater Call are excited to release their second single of 2024, “Roll”, an uplifting and quirky retro-soul number.
The single release accompanies the official announcement that the band will release their highly anticipated third studio album Shepherd on August 9th. The album is available to pre-order from May 15th via www.bywatercall.com.
“Roll” was recorded and mixed by Bywater drummer Bruce McCarthy at his studio The BeatFarm in Toronto. “This song, through the stories of three ordinary people, speaks to the curve balls thrown at us all in the game of life,” says Bywater Call’s singer, Meghan Parnell. “The lesson: you have to hold your head up and just keep moving forward.”
Featuring a signature bass line played by Mike Meusel and conceived by keyboard player John Kervin, who throws in his own tasteful organ lick, the original inspiration for “Roll” was an old James Carr R&B tune, “The Dark End of the Street.” he song, however, quickly took on a life of its own.
Throw in the classic soul of Otis Redding, the American rootsiness of the Wood Brothers, a little humour and quirk, mainly supplied by drummer Bruce McCarthy’s percussion, some twangy resonator and fiery slide guitar from Dave Barnes, sultry vocals from Meghan Parnell, and then top it all off with the unforgettable horn section of Julian Nalli (Sax) and Stephen Dyte (trumpet) and a gospel-inspired build that will have us all celebrating our resilience; out comes “Roll”.
The release of “Roll” follows the early March release of “Holler” which saw extensive A-list radio play on UK’s Planet Rock Radio, and the 2023 releases of singles “Sweet Maria” and “For All We Know”, which received rave reviews from UK, Europe, and North America. All three tunes will be included on the new album.
Set to be released August 9th, 2024, Shepherd features a captivating mix of 10 original songs, showcasing the bands continual exploration, experimentation, and reach beyond the boundaries of their genre, further developing their own unique voice. The new music shows their growth, while still paying tribute to their historical and contemporary influences.
Packed with ripping rock tunes, quirky off-beat numbers, and beautiful ballads, the upcoming album Shepherd is exuberant, rootsy, funky, joyful, and heartbreaking all at once. At its core, this album celebrates, and reflects the human experience with all its highs and lows: love, passion, regret, patience, resilience, reconciliation, anger, hardship. This album will truly take the listener on a journey.
Shepherd is the Bywater Call’s first fully self-produced and self-recorded album.
Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members.
“Brilliant songs performed by amazing musicians who left every ounce of energy and sweat on the stage tonight.”
- Jace Music Media
Bywater Call is currently UK Blues Award nominated for International Blues Artist of the year. They have toured extensively in Europe where shows have been praised by Dutch, German and UK media, with references to Meghan as one of the best female voices in blues and roots today.
The band has been busy. In 2023 alone, they played a total of 96 shows in 10 countries, 89 cities, 19 US states and 3 Canadian provinces, including Joe Bonamassa’s third Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean Cruise.
In April and May 2024 the band will tour Europe and will return for a second 2024 European tour in October, including a run in the UK. Dates and details at www.bywatercall.com
SHEPHERD – ALBUM TRACK LISTING
EVERYBODY KNOWS (3:53)
COLOURS (4:54)
SWEET MARIA (5:16)
HOLLER (3:57)
FOR ALL WE KNOW (4:05)
ROLL (4:33)
TURN IT AROUND (4:02)
NOW AND NEVER (4:02)
AS IF (3:45)
SIGN OF PEACE (5:07)
SONG BY SONG
EVERYBODY KNOWS: Classic southern rock that incorporates stories of poor decisions, leading to compromising character. We all have to “sleep in the bed we’ve made.” Powerful female vocals, soulful backups, piano and ripping rock guitar are featured in this banger.
COLOURS: A powerful ballad of unrequited love. A love for a person you’ve dedicated everything to, known everything about, and still, it isn’t enough.
SWEET MARIA: An uplifting New Orleans romp based on the proverb, “If you love them set them free”. It is also a celebration of loving those around you for who they are. Featuring a full-gospel breakdown and a driving keyboard solo.
HOLLER: A vivacious, delta blues-based stomper, embracing uninhibited passion. Starting with haunting resonator and a low-fi serenade, it builds to a climactic, infectious blend of catchy melodies, pulsating beats, and powerful, soaring vocals.
FOR ALL WE KNOW: A rootsy hymn of redemption and self-recognition. This beautiful tune teaches that the tools you need to thrive are within.
ROLL: An uplifting and quirky retro-soul number about rolling with life’s challenges and forging ahead.
TURN IT AROUND: An energetic, eclectic, roots soul song about taming one’s wild side to hold onto true love.
NOW AND NEVER: A fun take on dysfunctional romantic relationships … those ones where you just keep running in circles and seem to exist “Always, Now and Never” all at the same time. Featuring some top-notch horn moments.
AS IF: A strong funk n’ soul inspired number featuring the talents of Bruce McCarthy on drums and Mike Meusel on bass.
SIGN OF PEACE: Full on tribute to the band’s New Orleans influences. This one is a brass band, second line shout out to lend a hand to all those in need, and to call out for help when you need it.
ALBUM CREDITS
Bywater Call:
Meghan Parnell – Lead Vocals
Dave Barnes – Guitars
Stephen Dyte – Trumpet and Valve Trombone
John Kervin – Keyboards, Background Vocals
Bruce McCarthy – Drums and Percussion
Mike Meusel – Bass Guitar, Background Vocals
Julian Nalli – Saxophones
Produced by: Bywater Call
Recorded and engineered by: Bruce McCarthy (The BeatFarm)
Additional recording & engineering (“For All We Know”, “Sweet Maria”) by: Kevin Howley (The Barn, PEC)
Additional keyboard/piano gear and studio space and capture by: Joel Visentin and Alan Zemaitis
Mixed by: Bruce McCarthy (The BeatFarm)
Mastered by: Kristian Montano (Montano Mastering)
Additional background vocals performed by:
Stacie Tabb (“Colours”, “Everybody Knows”, “Now and Never”, “Sign of Peace”)
Claire Davis and Joanna Mohammed (Aphrose) (“For All We Know”, “Sweet Maria”)
Trombone on “Sign of Peace” performed by: Christian Overton
Tuba on “Sign of Peace” performed by: N. Jay Burr
Cover illustration: Randy Nyhof
Graphic design: Graeme Maitland and Jordynn Mackenzie
Photos: Erin Cosentino
All songs written by Bywater Call
Joe Ernewein, co-write on “Sign of Peace”
©℗ 2024 Bywater Call Records
Planet Rock & The Gig Cartel in association with Teenage Head Music Present
BYWATER CALL
ON TOUR 2024
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM
BYWATER CALL
EUROPEAN SPRING TOUR 2024
19-April Piteå, Sweden Studio Acusticum
20-April Luleå, Sweden Kulturens hus
22-April Stockholm, Sweden Melodybox
23-April Näsby, Sweden Carla's Café
24-April Malmö, Sweden Folk å Rock
25-April Kristianstad, Sweden Kulturkvarteret
26-April Falkenberg, Sweden Tryckhallen
27-April Joldelund, Germany Gerd's Juke Joint
28-April Joldelund, Germany Gerd's Juke Joint / duo show
30-April Norderstedt, Germany Music Star
1-May Bremen, Germany Meisenfrei
2-May Leiden, Netherlands Qbus
3-May Ospel, Netherlands Moulin Blues
4-May Dortmund, Germany Musiktheater Piano
5-May Assen, Netherlands Bevrijdings Festival
7-May Burglengenfeld, Germ VAZ
8-May Zwickau, Germany St Barbara
9-May Eppstein, Germany Wunderbar
10-May Kufstein, Austria KuFa
11-May Ludwigshafen, Germany DasHaus
12-May Krefeld, Germany Kulturrampe
14-May Madrid, Spain El Sol
15-May Jerez, Spain La Guarida Del Angel
16-May Castellon, Spain Sala Because
17-May Valencia, Spain Loco Club
18-May Peer, Belgium Blues Peer Festival
19-May Schöppingen, Germany Grolsch Blues Festival
21-May Santander, Spain Sala Niagara
22-May Bilbao, Spain Antzokia
23-May A Coruña, Spain Sala Mardi Gras
24-May Aviles, Spain Niemeyer
25-May Vallés Spain Bocanegra
26-May San Sebastian, Spain Dabadaba
SPRING/ SUMMER USA/CANADA/ROMANIA TOUR 2024
7-June Montrose, CO Montrose Summer Music Series
13-June Syracuse, NY New York State Blues Festival
14-June Somers Point, NJ Somer’s Point Beach Concerts
16-June Franklin, PA Franklin Blues & BBQ
18-June Lima, NY Fanatics
19-June Sellersville, PA Sellersville Theatre
20-June Tuckerton, NJ Lizzie Rose Music Room
21-June Hagerstown, MD HubCity Vinyl
22-June Hughesville, PA Billtown Blues Festival
5-July Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa Blues Fest
12-July Omaha, NB Playing with Fire
13-July Kansas City, MO Knuckleheads
19-July Brezoi, Romania Brezoi Open Air Festival
23-July Syracuse, NY Club 443
24-July Syracuse, NY Club 443
25-July Athens, NY Summer Music Series
28-July Norwood, MA Fallout Shelter
2-August Pomeroy, OH Big Bend Blues Bash
3-August Nashville, TN City Winery
4-August Knoxville, TN Tennessee Riverboat
9-August Nanaimo, BC Nanaimo Blues Festival
11-August Wheeling, WV Heritage Music Blues Fest
16-August Norwich, NY Chenango Blues Fest
17-August Thornton, NH White Mountain Boogie N’ Blues Fest
24-August Ontonagon, MI Porcupine Mountains Music Festival
29-August Pelham, ON Fonhtill Bandshell Concerts
6-September Port Credit, ON Southside Shuffle
7-September Drumheller, AB, Canada Badlands Roots, Blues and BBQ
EUROPE FALL TOUR 2024
2-October Verviers, Belgium Spirit of 66
3-October Heilbronn, Germany Waldhaus
4-October Zaandam, Netherlands De Flux
5-October Enschede, Netherlands Mystiek Theatre
6-October Weert, Netherlands De Bosuil
8-October Fulda, Germany Kulturkeller
9-October Utrecht, Netherlands Tivoli (Cloud 9)
10-October Herent, Belgium GC De Wildeman
11-October Isernhagen, Germany Blues Garage
12-October Assen, Netherlands New Blues Festival
13-October Bonn, Germany Harmonie
16-October Manchester, UK Academy 3
17-October Cardiff, UK Globe
18-October Leek, UK Foxlowe Arts
19-October Leeds, UK Brudenell
20-October Glasgow, UK Oran Mor
22-October Newcastle, UK Cluny
23-October Sheffield, UK Corporation
24-October Norwich, UK Waterfront Studios
25-October London, UK Dingwalls
26-October Newbury, UK Arlington Arts
27-October Sittingbourne, UK Bourne Music Club
ABOUT BYWATER CALL
Meghan Parnell (vocals) and Dave Barnes (guitar) are the founding members of Bywater Call, a powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock band from Toronto, Canada. The band is completed by Bruce McCarthy on drums, Mike Meusel on Bass, newest member, John Kervin on Keys, Stephen Dyte on trumpet and Julian Nalli on tenor sax.
Bywater is currently UK Blues Award nominated for International Blues Artist of the year. They have toured extensively in Europe where shows have been praised by Dutch, German and UK media, with references to Meghan as one of the best female voices in blues and roots today.
In August 2023, the band participated in Joe Bonamassa’s third Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean Cruise alongside headliners Blackberry Smoke and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and were invited to perform at the All-Star Jam on the mainstage with Bonamassa himself. Guitarist Dave Barnes was also asked to join legendary blues artist Jimmy Vivino (Conan O’Brien’s Basic Cable Band) on stage.
Bywater Call have commanded festival stages in Canada and around the world, often referred to as the “find of the fest”. In May of 2023, they opened for Canadian award-winning band Whitehorse at the inaugural Smokestack Music Festival in Hamilton, Ontario. In July, Meghan joined renowned pedal-steel guitarist Robert Randolph on stage at his request, at the Briggs Farm Festival in Nescopeck, PA.
On October 24, 2023, Bywater performed a live stream performance for the famed German TV show and festival Rockpalast.
In 2023 alone, the band played a total of 96 shows in 10 countries, 89 Cities, 19 US States and three Canadian provinces. This is not including a month-long duo tour in Europe and the UK where Meghan and Dave opened for Southern California rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck, who have recently partnered with Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records.
The band’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 the human experience, incorporating influences from the likes of The Band, The Wood Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Otis Redding, Little Feat, Sly and the Family Stone, among others.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.bywatercall.com
BYWATER CALL
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