Joe Bonamassa Announces The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork – Tribute to Rory Gallagher Out 19 June 2026

Joe Bonamassa The Spirit Of Rory

29 March 2026 rocknews

Joe Bonamassa Announces The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork – Tribute to Rory Gallagher Out 19 June 2026

Blues-rock guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa has announced a deeply personal live album and film paying tribute to Irish blues legend Rory Gallagher.

The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork captures Bonamassa’s sold-out three-night run in Gallagher’s hometown of Cork, Ireland, last summer. The release arrives via J&R Adventures on Friday 19 June 2026.

Listen to the first three live singles now:

“Walk On Hot Coals (Live)”
“Bullfrog Blues (Live)”
“Who’s That Coming? (Live)”

Watch the live performance of “Walk On Hot Coals”

Pre-orders are open now:

UK & Europe
North America

The album will be available on CD/DVD, CD/Blu-ray, and as a Double 180 Gram Red Marble Vinyl.

A Personal Tribute to Rory Gallagher

For Bonamassa, the project carries special weight. Gallagher’s music has been part of his life since childhood, introduced by his father. Though he never met Rory, Bonamassa felt the responsibility of performing in Cork with the blessing of the Gallagher family.

“I never had the honour to meet him, but his music and musicianship loom large in my life,” Bonamassa writes. “From my first time hearing Irish Tour ’74 I was captivated by the sheer intensity of the man and the ferocity of his approach to the electric blues.”

What started as a single concert invitation quickly grew into three sold-out shows. “This was Rory’s town, and Rory’s people. We weren’t going to let them down,” he says. The result is a high-energy, emotionally charged live document that honours Gallagher’s spirit with humility and reverence.

The 14-track set features blistering versions of Gallagher classics including “Cradle Rock”, “Tattoo’d Lady”, “Bad Penny”, “I Fall Apart”, “Calling Card” and “A Million Miles Away” (the album’s focus track). A standout moment sees Bonamassa playing “As The Crow Flies” on Rory’s own 1930 National Triolian resonator guitar, loaned by the Cork Public Museum.

Tracklisting

CD / Digital

Cradle Rock (Live)
Walk On Hot Coals (Live)
Tattoo’d Lady (Live)
I Wonder Who (Live)
Calling Card (Live)
Who’s That Coming? (Live)
Messin’ With The Kid (Live)
Bullfrog Blues (Live)
Treat Her Right (Live)
Bad Penny (Live)
I Fall Apart (Live)
A Million Miles Away (Live)
As The Crow Flies (Live)
Back On My Stompin’ Ground (Live)

DVD / Blu-ray includes the full concert plus bonus features:

Ballycotton – A Million Miles Away
Rory’s Acoustic Guitar
The Inspiration of Rory (conversations with Brian May & Slash)

Double 180 Gram Red Marble Vinyl (Side A–D split as listed in the announcement).

Bonus Content

The DVD and Blu-ray editions include exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Brian May and Slash discussing Rory Gallagher’s lasting influence.

The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork will be released on 19 June 2026. Pre-orders are available now.

FAQs – Joe Bonamassa The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork

When is The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork released? Friday 19 June 2026 via J&R Adventures.

What songs are available now? “Walk On Hot Coals (Live)”, “Bullfrog Blues (Live)” and “Who’s That Coming? (Live)” are streaming now.

Where was the album recorded? During three sold-out shows in Rory Gallagher’s hometown of Cork, Ireland.

Will there be vinyl? Yes – Double 180 Gram Red Marble Vinyl edition.

Does the release include bonus features? Yes – DVD/Blu-ray editions include conversations with Brian May & Slash, plus additional footage.

Why did Joe Bonamassa make this tribute album? To honour Rory Gallagher, whose music has influenced him since childhood, with the blessing of the Gallagher family.

Where can I pre-order The Spirit Of Rory? UK & Europe and North America links are live now on the official J&R Adventures site.

EU/U.K. SPRING TOUR 2026

April 22 – Hamburg, DE – Barclays Arena
April 24 – Rotterdam, NL – Rotterdam Rtm Stage
April 25 – Paris, FR – La Seine Musicale
April 27 – Esch-sur-Alzette, LU – Luxembourg Rockhal
April 29 – Mannheim, DE – SAP Arena
May 1 – Chemnitz, DE – Stadthalle Chemnitz
May 2 – Nürnberg, DE – Psd Bank Nürnberg Arena
May 3 – Zürich, CH – Hallenstadion
May 6 – London, UK – Royal Albert Hall
May 7 – London, UK – Royal Albert Hall

U.S. SUMMER TOUR 2026

June 26 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts w/ JJ Grey & Mofro & D.K. Harrell
June 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort
June 28 – Newark, NJ – New Jersey Performing Arts Center
July 29 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap w/ Gov’t Mule
July 31 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater w/ Gov’t Mule
August 1 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion w/ Gov’t Mule
August 3 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent
August 5 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater w/ JJ Grey & Mofro
August 7 – Selbyville, DE – Freeman Arts Pavilion
August 8 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion w/ Gov’t Mule
August 9 – Youngstown, OH – The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre w/ Gov’t Mule
August 12 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival
August 14 – Interlochen, MI – Kresge Auditorium
August 15 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Resort & Casino w/ Gov’t Mule
August 16 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater w/ Gov’t Mule
August 19 – Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Civic Center
August 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater
August 23 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre

EU FALL TOUR 2026

October 21 – Helsinki, FL – Veikkaus Arena
October 23 – Stockholm, SE – Stockholm Avicii Arena
October 24 – Oslo, NO – Oslo Spektrum
October 25 – Gothenburg, SE – Göteborg Partille Arena
October 27 – Copenhagen, DK – K.B. Hallen København
October 29 – Rostock, DE – Stadthalle Rostock
October 30 – Berlin, DE – Uber Arena
October 31 – Dortmund, DE – Westfalenhalle
November 3 – Basel, CH – Baloise Session
November 4 – Milan, IT – Unipol Forum

JOE BONAMASSA