News

Tabitha Records announced the first Bo Walton’s single “‘S TOO MUCH” c/w “HEY MISTER NIGHT” featuring Mark Knopfler on guitar. The single will be released 24 November 2011. This will be followed by the album entitled “Waiting on a dream” in early 2012

Old Grey Whistle Test 40 – Wednesday 5 October 10.00-11.00pm BBC RADIO 2. Bob Harris continues to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the classic music TV show. Tonight’s episode covers the series which ran from 1977 to 1978.

The show includes new session tracks from Randy Newman and John Otway, and John talks to Bob about the seminal Whistle Test performance of Really Free. Andy Partridge of XTC is in the OGWT40 studio with his memories of the band’s debut performance on the programme. And Mark Knopfler recalls the rise of Dire Straits.

The Thing About Hank – Tuesday 11 October 1.30-2.00pm BBC RADIO 4. Hank Marvin influenced a generation of guitarists including Jimmy Page, Mark Knopfler and Phil Manzanera.

The programme explores Marvin’s unique sound, which Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page reveals he tried hard to emulate as a teenager. And Page was not the only aspiring guitar hero adapting Hank’s style. Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits recounts his school days explaining how he and his pals learnt The Shadows’ tunes after class.

Red House Records announced the release of Pieta Brown’s new album Mercury. The album was recorded in Nashville and includes the Mark Knopfler guest work on the track ‘So Many Miles’

The new Thomas Dolby album (announced one year ago) will be released in October 2011.

The album, featuring appearances by special guest artists Mark Knopfler, Regina Spektor, Natalie MacMaster, Bruce Woolley and Imogen Heap, will be available on October 25 on Lost Toy People Records as a regular and hi-res download, as a physical CD, and in a special Deluxe Edition featuring a second disc of instrumentals and bonus tracks.

The track ‘17 Hills’ featuring Mark Knopfler was released on EP ‘Amerikana’ in 2010.

Alan Clark, original keyboardist for Dire Straits, talks to BBC Radio Newcastle’s Jon Harle about the upcoming October UK tour by the recently launched band “The Straits”. The Straits will embark on an 11-date UK tour starting October 3rd at the Birmingham Symphony Hall.

The Bob Dylan with Mark Knopfler tour was announced. Both artists with their bands will tour Europe in October and November.

The Mark’s band consists of Richard Bennett, Guy Fletcher, Jim Cox, John McCusker, Mike McGoldrick, Glenn Worf and Ian Thomas.

Referring to the press kit both artists and their formations will do one half of the concert each.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Old Grey Whistle Test, Radio 2 has commissioned a 16-part series entitled Old Grey Whistle Test 40 hosted by who else but Bob Harris.

Starting in August, the programmes will feature classic archive, new performances and interviews with artists who appeared on the original series and will be recorded at the historic Maida Vale studios. Those already confirmed to take part include Elton John, Alice Cooper, Roger Daltrey, Robert Plant, Mark Knopfler, Paul Weller, Yusuf Islam, Emmylou Harris, Gregg Allman, Simple Minds and Neil Finn.

Iconic Grammy-winning rock group AMERICA – led for four decades by GERRY BECKLEY and DEWEY BUNNELL and active as ever with over 100 live shows worldwide a year – will release a new album, BACK PAGES, July 26 via Entertainment One Music. It is a rich, joyous collection of a dozen glimmering interpretations of songs by Bob Dylan, The Buffalo Springfield, Simon and Garfunkel, the Beach Boys, Jimmy Webb, Mark Knopfler as well as Fountains of Wayne, New Radicals and Gin Blossoms, among others.

Greg Brown, songwriter and co-founder of of the indie roots label Red House, released his 24th album ‘Freak Flag‘ on May 10, 2011. The album was produced by Bo Ramsey and includes the Mark Knopfler guest work on the track ‘Flat Stuff’.

Universal Music Japan is planning to release Lover Over Gold SHM SA-CD (cat. nbr. UIGY-9505) on July 20, 2011. The reissue is based on a DSD transfer from Japan analog master tape.