Two Rory Gallagher tribute gigs sold out at Marquee in Cork - third date added  (2024)

The first act for Live At The Marquee 2025 in Cork was announced in September as with American guitarist Joe Bonamassa to lead tribute gigs to the late Rory Gallagher.

Details of the concerts were announced at a launch event on September 30 at the Oliver Plunkett bar in Cork city, where Bonamassa was on-hand to play a few of Gallagher’s classic tunes. Marquee promoter Peter Aiken announced the gigs in the presence of Donal Gallagher – Rory’s brother and manager through his career – and other members of the Gallagher family.

The gigs will come just a few weeks after the 30th anniversary of the death of the beloved Cork guitarist, who passed away on June 14, 1995, aged 47.

"It's a real, real honour for the family to have this happen, and in particular, in Cork," said Donal Gallagher. "I can't think of a better 30th anniversary remembrance for Rory, a celebration of his work, and no better man than Joe to play that."

Three-times Grammy nominee Bonamassa has often cited Gallagher as a major inspiration, and the New Yorker’s debut album in 2000 even opened with a cover of the Donegal-born musician’s ‘Cradle Rock’. At his appearances at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2011, Bonamassa played that track on Gallagher’s original Fender Stratocaster.

The legendary guitar has been in the news lately as it’s the main item in a batch of Gallagher’s instruments and other equipment being auctioned at Bonhams in London in October. Bonamassa revealed at Monday's press conference he had anonymously put in "a couple of grand" to the GoFundMe campaign to keep Rory’s guitar in Cork.

For the Cork gigs, Bonamassa will be joined by an impressive band that includes British drummer Jeremy Stacey (Lemonheads, High Flying Birds, etc), and Dublin bassist Aongus Ralston (The Waterboys, etc). Gallagher’s original bass player Gerry McEvoy is also expected to make an appearance. Much of the set at the Marquee will contain material from Irish Tour ‘74, as well as other popular tracks from the late maestro’s canon.

Bonamassa also told the press conference that he was aware of the difficulty he faced trying to fill Gallagher’s shoes, not least in the era of unkind social media comments.

"I know this is going to be incredibly challenging for me. I'm not Rory Gallagher. I'm Joe Bonamassa playing Rory songs," he said.

The venue for the launch would have been known as Zoes or Swingers to previous generations of Corkonians, but Donal Gallagher recalled it was the Palm Court Ballroom in Rory’s youth, and he would have played there on many occasions.

The 1974 tour provided the material for one of Gallagher’s great albums, and footage of the gigs in Cork, Belfast and Dublin was also captured in Tony Palmer’s film. The gig in the North was organised by Jim Aiken, father of the current promoter, and eagle-eyed viewers may spot a young Peter in the background in one of the scenes.

Peter also has fond memories of Gallagher’s visits to Belfast in the 1970s, when the Troubles were in full swing, and the Cork guitarist was one of the few big acts who’d travel to the strife-torn province. After the concerts, Gallagher and his band would often end up back in the Aiken household in Andersonstown. “Rory was always such a nice, down-to-earth guy,” recalled Peter, who said he’d been hoping to organise a tribute event for several years.

A recent tribute gig at Cork City Hall – organised by Sheena Crowley, daughter of Michael Crowley, who sold the famous Stratocaster to Gallagher in 1963 – saw various local artists play as a part of a campaign to retain the guitar in Gallagher’s home city.

The Bonhams auction and Marquee gigs are the latest chapters in Gallagher’s continued presence in popular culture since he became one of country’s first international rock stars. A new album, The BBC Collection, will also be released in mid-October, featuring highlights of the guitarist’s appearances on the British broadcaster across the years 1971 to 1986.

Other announcements about acts for the Live at the Marquee summer series are expected in the coming weeks. The concerts will take place at the same Marina-side location as last year’s event, a stone's throw from Shandon Boat Club, another venue where Gallagher played numerous gigs during his formative years in Cork.

• Tickets for Joe Bonamassa plays Rory Gallagher's additional date will go on sale Thursday, October 17 at 10am from Ticketmaster.