Joe Bonamassa tips hat to Rory Gallagher with “Bullfrog Blues”
Blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa has released a new live performance video of “Bullfrog Blues,” taken from his upcoming live album The Spirit of Rory: Live From Cork, due out June 19.
The performance captures Bonamassa leaning into his slide guitar work, delivering a gritty and expressive take on the Rory Gallagher staple. Filmed in Cork, Ireland, the video highlights both the raw energy of the performance and Bonamassa’s deep connection to the material.
The project pays tribute to late Irish blues legend Rory Gallagher, whose influence on Bonamassa dates back to his earliest years as a guitarist. For Bonamassa, recording the album in Gallagher’s hometown carried particular significance.
“I never had the honor to meet him, but his music and musicianship loom large in my life,” Bonamassa writes in a personal foreword accompanying the release. “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.”
The Spirit of Rory: Live From Cork was recorded with the blessing of Gallagher’s family and in front of audiences deeply connected to his legacy, adding further weight to the performances.
Bonamassa will support the release with an extensive run of tour dates across the U.S. and Europe throughout 2026.
The “Bullfrog Blues” performance video is available now.
U.S. Spring Tour 2026
April 10-12, 2026 – Miramar Beach, FL – Sound Wave Beach Weekend (Sold Out)
EU/UK 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, FI – Veikkaus Arena
October 23 – Stockholm, SE – Avicii Arena
October 24 – Oslo, NO – Oslo Spektrum
October 25 – Gothenburg, SE – Partille Arena
October 27 – Copenhagen, DK – K.B. Hallen
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
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