Joe Bonamassa: The Spirit Of Rory to have world premiere at Cork International Film Festival

Joe Bonamassa: The Spirit Of Rory – a documentary following the American blues rock icon, as he pays tribute to Rory Gallagher in his hometown – is set to have its world premiere at Cork International Film Festival next month.

The news comes as part of the first programme announcements from the festival – with the full line-up set to be unveiled this evening.

The world premiere of Joe Bonamassa: The Spirit Of Rory will take place at the Everyman in Cork at 6pm on Wednesday, November 18. In addition to the screening, there will be a Q&A with Rory's brother and manager, Dónal Gallagher, and a special guest.

The documentary was filmed during Bonamassa's run of three sold-out performances at Live at the Marquee in Cork last year, marking the 30th anniversary of Rory's death. According to a description on the CIFF website, the Irish guitar legend's influence is explored through "electrifying performances, rare footage, and conversations with Brian May, Slash, and more, while featuring Gallagher’s stories from those closest to his legacy, bringing his incredible story to life."

This summer, Bonamassa also released the live album, The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork, via his own J&R Adventures label.

“I was asked by Rory’s family to consider performing some of his material and paying tribute to him at a venue in Cork,” Bonamassa wrote in a personal foreword, accompanying the release. “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.

“I felt the very best I could hope for was to approach his catalogue with humility and reverence... The crowds on those three nights were rowdy, raucous and Cork did their favourite son proud."

Read our recent interview with Dónal Gallagher – about his new book, Edged in Blue: A Rock 'n' Roll Odyssey with Rory Gallagher – in the current issue of Hot Press: