Bywater Call open Blues at the Bow season lineup June 7

Commentator/Courier Photo Submitted by Michelle MacLean, Blues at the Bow.

By Jared Vas
Southern Alberta Newspapers

On June 7, as the hot sun sets over dusty Bow Island and the wide sky takes on a deep shade of purple, a transformation occurs at the historic Bow Theatre.

Since its 1993 renovation by the local historical society, the Bow Theatre has become home to Blues at the Bow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing blues music in the town of Bow Island.

The annual concert series welcomes acts both big and small, local and international.

As a nonprofit, Blues at the Bow reinvests all proceeds into supporting its mission to deliver high-quality live music experiences to the community.

A volunteer committee dedicates its time and resources to sustaining the organization.

This season opens with the Toronto-based blues-soul seven-piece band Bywater Call.

The band has received numerous blues award nominations, most recently for Best International Artist at the 2024 UK Blues Awards.

Jason Riddell, president of Blues at the Bow, first saw the band perform in Drumheller and promptly added them to the organization’s booking roster.

They accepted the invitation, and the band—well-known for its extensive European tours—will now make its debut at Blues at the Bow.

Riddell credits Meghan Parnell’s powerful vocals and the band’s big sound as a perfect fit for the venue.

The full seven-piece band includes vocals, horns, keys, and rhythm—giving it that signature big-band blues sound.

Parnell, an original member of the band, explains how a corporate wedding band evolved into the multi-nominated blues powerhouse it is today.

“Dave (guitar) and I, after having run this cover band for so long, were kind of getting to the point where if we didn’t start writing our own music and starting our own original project in the same year, we were going to lose the love of performing.”

Influenced by acts such as Tedeschi Trucks Band and Amy Winehouse, and named after a neighbourhood in New Orleans, Bywater Call aims to capture the spirit of that area in their music.

“The name is really just a call to go back and visit as much as we can and to incorporate that feeling we got from New Orleans into the music that we’re writing ourselves.”

Parnell says the band’s signature warm, feel-good sound has evolved from a desire to deepen their musical expression:

“We knew we wanted a bigger sound, so we added horns and never looked back. We’re always striving for this warm, feel-good sound that crosses genres but has a soul vibe to it.”

Parnell’s vision for a fuller sound brings a warmth that sets the band apart—but it also presents the challenge of fitting seven musicians onto the venue’s compact stage, a challenge welcomed by Blues at the Bow’s president.

“That’s a lot of people to have on our little stage, so it will be great,” Riddell said.

The venue’s three tiers of seating, balcony, and sloped dance floor ensure that every attendee has a clear view of the stage.

The concert occurs Saturday, June 7, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m.

The four shows for this season will be announced following the performance. For more information, you can visit: bluesatthebow.com.