On Stage with Bywater Call
Just moments after closing Opening Night of the 2026 Harmony in the Woods concert season, Meghan Parnell and Dave Barnes of Bywater Call returned to the stage, not for an encore, but for a honest conversation with HarmonyTALK host Greg Frigoletto.
The result is an interview that feels every bit as genuine as the band's music.
Over the past several years, the Toronto-based, seven-piece band has quietly become one of the most exciting live acts on the international roots music scene. Blending Southern soul, blues, roots rock, and powerful horn arrangements, Bywater Call delivers performances that are both emotionally charged and musically fearless. At the center is Meghan Parnell's commanding voice, complemented by Dave Barnes' expressive guitar work and the remarkable chemistry of a band that has spent years earning every fan one performance at a time.
Their music refuses to be confined to a single genre.
Influenced by artists including The Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Otis Redding, Little Feat, Sly and the Family Stone, and The Wood Brothers, Bywater Call moves effortlessly from deeply personal ballads to high-energy anthems that showcase the full strength of the seven-piece ensemble. Every song reflects the highs and lows of life, exploring love, loss, resilience, hope, and everything in between.
That authenticity has earned the band growing international recognition. Following extensive touring throughout Europe, Bywater Call was nominated for the 2025 UK Blues Award for International Blues Artist of the Year. This year, the band once again landed among the Top 20 finalists alongside many of the biggest names in contemporary blues.
In this episode, Meghan and Dave reflect on how the band found its sound, what keeps seven musicians connected through thousands of miles on the road, and why live performance continues to shape everything they create.
Recorded immediately after their Harmony in the Woods performance, this conversation captures something listeners rarely hear: artists reflecting on a show while the music is still echoing in the air.
If this conversation inspires you to experience live music under the trees, the Harmony in the Woods summer concert season continues through Sept. 5 with an outstanding lineup of nationally touring artists spanning blues, Americana, folk, jazz, bluegrass, Celtic, world music, and more. Visit HarmonyInTheWoods.org for the complete schedule and tickets.