Joe Bonamassa releases Rory Gallagher tribute album and film

Joe Bonamassa has released The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork, a live album and concert film honoring Rory Gallagher, recorded during sold-out shows in Cork, Ireland. The project is out now on multiple formats and is being paired with a charitable raffle and a 2026 tour schedule. Why it matters: - The release turns a tribute concert into a wider celebration of Rory Gallagher’s influence on blues-rock. - The project also connects Bonamassa’s audience to Gallagher’s legacy through a live album, concert film and bonus features. - A European raffle tied to the release will support the Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation and its music education work. What happened: - Joe Bonamassa released The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork on June 19, 2026 via J&R Adventures. - The project is available on CD/DVD, CD/Blu-ray, digital and double 180-gram red marble vinyl. - Bonamassa also released the live performance video for “A Million Miles Away (Live).” - The album and film were recorded during sold-out tribute performances in Cork, Ireland. - Bonamassa expanded the tribute from one concert into a three-night sold-out run in Gallagher’s hometown. The details: - The set includes 14 songs drawn from Gallagher favorites and live staples. - The track list includes “Cradle Rock,” “Walk On Hot Coals,” “Tattoo’d Lady,” “I Wonder Who,” “Calling Card,” “Who’s That Coming?,” “Messin’ With The Kid,” “Bullfrog Blues,” “Treat Her Right,” “Bad Penny,” “I Fall Apart,” “A Million Miles Away,” “As The Crow Flies” and “Back On My Stompin’ Ground.” - The release centers on “A Million Miles Away,” one of Gallagher’s best-known songs. - Bonamassa performed “As The Crow Flies” on Gallagher’s 1930 National Triolian resonator guitar, loaned by the Cork Public Museum. - The DVD and Blu-ray include bonus features titled Ballycotton - A Million Miles Away, Rory’s Acoustic Guitar and The Inspiration of Rory, featuring conversations with Brian May and Slash. - The album was recorded with the blessing of Gallagher’s family. - Bonamassa wrote in the liner notes that the recordings were his team’s best effort to pay tribute to Gallagher and his legacy. - Early praise from Guitarist Magazine, Blues Matters and Powerplay called the project a fitting tribute and a standout live release. Between the lines: - The project is built around reverence rather than reinvention, with Bonamassa leaning into Gallagher’s original emotional and musical shape. - The Cork setting matters because Gallagher’s hometown audience and local landmarks add historical weight to the release. - The bonus interview with Donal Gallagher and the use of Rory Gallagher’s guitar deepen the release’s archival value. - The charitable raffle extends the tribute beyond the music and ties the launch to music education funding. What’s next: - European fans can enter the raffle from June 19 through July 20. - The prize package includes a signed Classic Series ’60s Fender Stratocaster, a signed copy of the red marble double vinyl, a CD/DVD or CD/Blu-ray package and a $100 merchandise credit. - Bonamassa’s 2026 schedule continues with U.S. summer dates and a European fall tour. - Upcoming U.S. stops include Bethel, Atlantic City, Newark, Sioux City and Red Rocks, plus Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Austin. - The European fall run begins in October and includes stops in Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Berlin, Milan, Barcelona, Madrid and Wroclaw. The bottom line: - The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork is a full-scale tribute that pairs Bonamassa’s guitar work with Rory Gallagher’s legacy, while using the release to support music education and extend the story on stage, on film and on record.