Since their formation in Toronto, Canada, in 2017, this 7-piece powerhouse was born out of a love for southern soul, blues, and roots music and a passion for creating a powerful and moving experience for listeners. Led by the raw, driving force of vocalist Meghan Parnell and guitarist Dave Barnes, the group has garnered Maple Blues and Independent Blues Award nominations and making waves in the Canadian festival circuit. The band’s self-titled debut album, their 2022 European tour, and their much-anticipated sophomore album have all gained the band significant praise and acclaim. Rock and Blues Muse writes, “this is a tightly connected group of superior musicians who…have just started to discover what they’re capable of…There’s some rare alchemy going on here, so there is no telling what Bywater Call might create next.” Get Ready to Rock, UK boasts the band “revitalizes the soul genre with a spirited performance on innovative material, all framed by a coherent production that finds the perfect balance between passion, spark, and musical excellence.” 

Discovered by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics at 16, Shaw quickly became one of the most sought-after guitarists in the blues-rock world. Her incredible guitar playing built an army of plaudits, including Jimmy Cliff, Joe Bonamassa, and Stevie Wonder. Joanne has proven herself as a distinct soulful voice and a prolific songwriter, releasing seven acclaimed albums, each increasingly more successful with her 2019 “Reckless Heart” breaking into the UK Top 20 Album Chart. Her latest release, Nobody’s Fool, is produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith and features Bonamassa on “Won’t Be Fooled Again” and music legend Dave Stewart on a cover of the Eurythmics classic “Missionary Man.”  Brighton & Hove News says Shaw is “at her finest, whether ripping the fretboard to pieces with energetic solos, to gentle soft soul ballads and smoky bad love blues numbers.”  Record Collect says, “13 years after her debut album, she might well find herself the next overnight sensation.”  

An internationally known and local favorite, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, leaves it all on the table. Formed in Lincoln in 2012, Hoyer and his award-winning band have performed throughout the U.S. and twice throughout Europe! Hoyer even appeared on “The Voice” on NBC. The raucous funk and smooth soul emanating from the stage dutifully pay homage to the past soul giants while simultaneously charging forward, piloting themselves into the modern era. This is soul music. "If James Brown and Otis Redding had a love child, it would be Josh Hoyer,” says No Depression Music Journal. “The band delivers “a sound so big, so funky, so wring-the-sweat-out-of-you energetic that it reaches through the speakers and shakes you until you start moving to its groove."

Selected to perform at the 2017, 2019, and 2022 International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase in Memphis, the band has a fresh lineup of one returning vocalist and four new musicians. The award-winning members range in age from 14 to 18 and play an infectious show of blues and blues-inspired rock, funk, and soul. The band is well known locally and has performed at festivals and venues throughout the Omaha metro community.