Canadian roots, rock, and soul band Bywater Call are excited to announce the release “Is This Thing On?”, leading up to the July 29th release of their highly anticipated fourth studio album Broken Souvenirs featuring the critically acclaimed singles “No One Else”, “Only” and “Hold Me Down.” The album is available to pre-order HERE.
Due to popular demand, two new dates have been added to Bywater Call’s January and February 2027 UK Tour. The band will now play Milton Keynes’ the Stables on February 1st, and Newcastle’s Anarchy Brew on February 7th. Tickets for all UK shows are available from The Gig Cartel, Gigantic, and Bywater Call.
The new single “Is This Thing On?” is available on all streaming platforms via – https://linktr.ee/bywatercall
“Is This Thing On?” is a haunting, soul-stirring blend of soul, Americana, blues, and folk — gritty, intimate, and emotionally charged. Built around beautifully arranged acoustic guitar, sweeping strings, and a raw, magnetic vocal performance, the song lays bare the vulnerability of sending art out into the world: exposed, unguarded, and searching for connection. It captures the quiet fear that, after pouring your heart and soul into something, no one may be listening.
The single’s minimalist arrangement gives the song room to breathe, allowing the listener to fully absorb its storytelling and emotional weight. It stands as one of Bywater Call’s most powerful musical statements to date, offering a compelling glimpse of the depth, maturity, and artistry that define their forthcoming album, Broken Souvenirs.
“Is This Thing On?” has already become a fan favourite at live shows, inspiring a call and response between the band and the audience.
Drawing inspiration from the raw storytelling of Shakey Graves, Sierra Ferrell, Brandi Carlile, and Jason Isbell, “Is This Thing On?” sits firmly within the emotional landscape of Broken Souvenirs. Rich in atmosphere and detail, the song places storytelling at its core, painting vivid scenes that invite listeners to step inside its world and carry its imagery long after the final note fades.
The song reflects Bywater Call’s commitment to blending timeless influences with fresh, contemporary sounds, while continuing to define a musical space entirely their own. That spirit of evolution and experimentation runs through Broken Souvenirs, capturing the emotional intensity, musicianship, and driving Bywater Call’s energy and conviction that fans have come to love.
“Is This Thing On?” was recorded at Palace Studios in Toronto, mixed by Patric McGroarty, and mastered by Kristian Montano of Montano Mastering. The official video for the single was choreographed and directed by Chelsea Preston and filmed by Badee Mirkham.
Broken Souvenirs delivers a captivating 11-song collection that captures Bywater Call at their most versatile, adventurous, and emotionally charged. Expanding beyond the boundaries of genre, the album deepens the band’s distinctive voice while embracing a bold, wide-ranging sound. Drawing on influences from Black Pumas, Alabama Shakes, Amy Winehouse, Shakey Graves, The Black Crowes and more, Broken Souvenirs moves effortlessly from feel-good retro soul and intimate acoustic moments to driving contemporary R&B, creating a rich, dynamic journey from start to finish.
Renowned for transcending genre boundaries, Bywater Call has built a reputation for electrifying, emotionally charged live performances driven by powerhouse vocals and thrilling interplay between all seven band members. In early 2026, the band earned their third consecutive UK Blues Awards nomination for “International Act of the Year”, following previous nominations in 2025 and 2024.
Classic Rock made Bywater Call’s 2024 studio album Shepherd their “Blues Album of the Month” and said it was “an inventive and uncommonly catchy record. the sense of a band on the brink is unmistakable.” Shepherd was also voted “Top Blues Album of the Year” in Classic Rock’s year-end round-up.
27-Jan 2027 | Faversham, UK | The Old Brewery Store – Tickets
28-Jan 2027 | Southampton, UK | The Brook – Tickets
30-Jan 2027 | Exeter, UK | Phoenix – Tickets
31-Jan 2027 | Sheffield, UK | Yellow Arch – Tickets
1-Feb 2027 | Milton Keynes | The Stables – Tickets
2-Feb 2027 | York, UK | Crescent – Tickets
3-Feb 2027 | Glasgow, UK | Oran Mor – Tickets
4-Feb 2027 | Manchester, UK | Band on the Wall – Tickets
5-Feb 2027 | London, UK | 100 Club – Tickets
6-Feb 2027 | Norwich, UK | Waterfront – Tickets
7-Feb 2027 | Newcastle | Anarchy Brewery – Tickets