Joe Bonamassa announces Rory Gallagher tribute album

Joe Bonamassa has announced the release of his new live album and film, The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork, arriving June 19 via J&R Adventures, with pre-orders now available. The project captures Bonamassa’s tribute performances honoring Rory Gallagher, recorded during a series of sold-out shows in Cork, Ireland.

The release features 14 songs drawn from across Gallagher’s catalog, including newly released live singles “Walk On Hot Coals (Live),” “Bullfrog Blues (Live),” and “Who’s That Coming? (Live).” The album’s focus track will be “A Million Miles Away (Live).”

For Bonamassa, the project carries deep personal significance. “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.”

He also reflected on how early exposure to Gallagher shaped him as a musician. “I remember that voice and a singular guitar tone slicing through the walls of my bedroom at a very young age,” Bonamassa recalls. “My father, who exposed me to so many of the great guitarists of his era, was quick to encourage me to listen to Rory and glean what I could.”

The tribute originated from an invitation by Gallagher’s family. “All these many years later I was asked by Rory’s family to consider performing some of his material and paying tribute to him at a venue in Cork,” he writes. “The very thought frightened me. Yes, I was scared to even attempt it but at the same time so honoured that his family felt that I might be up to the task.” Rather than reinterpret the songs, Bonamassa approached them with restraint. “I felt the very best I could hope for was to approach his catalog with humility and reverence.”

What began as a single show quickly expanded into three sold-out nights. “After the announcement, one show turned into three sold out shows,” Bonamassa writes. “I felt that my reputation was on the line with the Irish, but what a response!”

By the time the performances took place, the atmosphere had intensified. “This was Rory’s town, and Rory’s people. We weren’t going to let them down,” Bonamassa says. “The crowds on those three nights were rowdy, raucous and Cork did their favourite son proud.”

The album includes performances of songs such as “Cradle Rock,” “Tattoo’d Lady,” “Calling Card,” “Bad Penny,” “I Fall Apart,” and “As The Crow Flies,” the latter performed on Gallagher’s own 1930 National Triolian resonator guitar, loaned by the Cork Public Museum.

In addition to the audio release, DVD and Blu-ray editions will feature bonus content including The Inspiration of Rory, with appearances by Brian May and Slash, along with additional footage tied to the Cork performances.

Bonamassa summed up the project as a tribute to one of his key influences. “What you hear on these recordings is our best effort to pay tribute to Rory Gallagher, a man I never met, but admire so deeply,” he writes. “His music is part of me and I’m grateful that we were able to contribute in some small way to his ongoing legacy.”

Watch “Walk On Hot Coals” below.

CD Track Listing

1. Cradle Rock (Live)
2. Walk On Hot Coals (Live)
3. Tattoo’d Lady (Live)
4. I Wonder Who (Live)
5. Calling Card (Live)
6. Who’s That Coming? (Live)
7. Messin’ With The Kid (Live)
8. Bullfrog Blues (Live)
9. Treat Her Right (Live)
10. Bad Penny (Live)
11. I Fall Apart (Live)
12. A Million Miles Away (Live)
13. As The Crow Flies (Live)
14. Back On My Stompin’ Ground (Live)

DVD / Blu-ray

1. The Spirit Of Rory (Opening Scene)
2. Cradle Rock
3. Walk On Hot Coals
4. Tattoo’d Lady
5. I Wonder Who
6. Calling Card
7. Who’s That Coming?
8. Messin’ With The Kid
9. Band Introductions
10. Bullfrog Blues
11. Treat Her Right
12. Bad Penny
13. I Fall Apart
14. A Million Miles Away
15. As The Crow Flies
16. Back On My Stompin’ Ground
17. Ballycotton (End Credits)

Bonus Features

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

Vinyl (180 gram Red Marble Double LP)

Side A

1. Cradle Rock (Live)
2. Walk On Hot Coals (Live)
3. Tattoo’d Lady (Live)
4. I Wonder Who (Live)

Side B
5. Calling Card (Live)
6. Who’s That Coming? (Live)
7. Messin’ With The Kid (Live)
8. Bullfrog Blues (Live)

Side C
9. Treat Her Right (Live)
10. Bad Penny (Live)
11. I Fall Apart (Live)

Side D
12. A Million Miles Away (Live)
13. As The Crow Flies (Live)
14. Back On My Stompin’ Ground (Live)

U.S. Spring Tour 2026

April 10-12, 2026 – Miramar Beach, FL – Sound Wave Beach Weekend +
+Sold Out

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