Photo: Erin Enricos
Bywater Call Release New Single And Video ‘Sweet Maria’
Following their February 2023 UK tour supporting Robert Jon & The Wreck, rising Canadian southern soul, roots rock band Bywater Call release their highly anticipated new single “Sweet Maria” on Wednesday July 26th.
The release of “Sweet Maria” is released ahead of Bywater Call’s 2023 UK Headline Tour in October. It’s a joyous New Orleans blues and southern soul anthem, celebrating the adage “If you love something set it free.”
“Sweet Maria” is a glorious, funky blast of Big Easy blues and soul that recalls peak moments from Little Feat and The Band. This is intensely colorful roots music that packs a high-energy punch and a serious groove. Lead vocalist Meghan Parnell is magnetic and melodic. She has a big tone and a strong belt and puts them both to good use. Dave Barnes also rocks the house on slide guitar and shows off some impressive licks. The studio-shot music video for “Sweet Maria” drops you right into the middle of the action, which is where you want to be, especially for the hand-clapping breakdown. Bywater Call is a mighty crew and “Sweet Maria” will absolutely cure what ails you.
Watch “Sweet Maria”
Stream “Sweet Maria” Here
“Sweet Maria” features the signature refined, yet raw and powerful vocals of lead singer Meghan Parnell, singing slide guitar of Dave Barnes, gritty, driving keys of John Kervin and a full choir sure to get even the grumpiest person in the room smiling, clapping, and singing along.
Kervin brought the bones of this tune to the band in early 2023. After a few collective workshopping sessions, they knew they had something special.
“Sweet Maria” was filmed and recorded at friend, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Howley’s beautiful barn studio in the country of Ontario, Canada where he acted as engineer. Bass (Mike Meusel), drums (Bruce McCarthy), horns (Julian Nalli, sax and Stephen Dyte, trumpet) and keys were captured live-off-the-floor. Overdubs including background vocals from Claire Davis and Joanna Mohammed (Aphrose) were captured at drummer Bruce McCarthy’s home studio, where he also acted as mixing engineer.
Meghan Parnell and Dave Barnes are the driving force behind Bywater Call, a powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock band from Toronto, Canada
Formed in 2017, the band has received multiple Independent Blues and Maple Blues Award nominations including Entertainer of the Year and Best Female Vocalist for the 2023 Awards Season. They have toured extensively in Europe over the last few years, including in May and June of 2022, featuring a mainstage appearance at the Netherlands’ premiere blues festival Moulin Blues. Their shows were praised in Dutch and German media, with references to Meghan as one of the best female voices in blues and roots today.
In August 2023, the band will participate in Joe Bonamassa’s third Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean Cruise alongside headliners Blackberry Smoke, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Bonamassa himself.
Bywater Call have commanded festival stages from Belgium to Germany in Europe, Florida to Kentucky and Tennessee in the USA, and Toronto to Quebec City in Canada. In May of 2023, they opened for the Canadian Award-winning band White Horse at the inaugural edition of the Smokestack Music Festival in Hamilton, Ontario.
Bywater Call continues to tour across the US. throughout the remainder of 2023 and will return to tour Europe, including their first headline tour of the UK from October 3-13th–for tickets see HERE
Bywater Call Tickets and Tour Dates See HERE
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