November 16, 2018
Down The Road Wherever, the ninth solo studio album from Mark Knopfler, is out now on British Grove Records via Blue Note.
Recorded by Knopfler at British Grove—his West London studio—Down The Road Wherever features 14 new songs inspired by a wide range of subjects, including Knopfler’s early days in Deptford with Dire Straits, a stray soccer fan lost in a strange town, the compulsion of a musician hitching home through the snow and a man out of time in his local greasy spoon diner.
Watch the video for “Good On You Son.”
In celebration of the forthcoming album, Knopfler is set for an extensive North American tour kicking off on August 16, 2019 at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT. See below for a complete list of dates; tickets for most North American shows are available for purchase now at http://tour.markknopfler.com/ and each ticket comes with a copy of Down the Road Wherever.
On tour Knopfler will perform with an expanded ten-piece band, most of whom have been working with him for more than two decades: Guy Fletcher (keyboards), Richard Bennett (guitar), Jim Cox (piano), Mike McGoldrick (whistle and flute), John McCusker (fiddle and cittern), Glenn Worf (bass), Danny Cummings (percussion) and Ian Thomas (drums). New additions include Graeme Blevins (saxophone) and Tom Walsh (trumpet).
‘My songs are made to be performed live,’ notes Knopfler. ‘I love the whole process of writing them alone and then recording them with the band, but ultimately the best part is playing them to an audience live. I enjoy the whole circus, travelling from town to town and interacting with this group of players is a total pleasure. I’m really looking forward to it.’
Knopfler has previously released eight solo albums, as well as Neck And Neck with guitar great Chet Atkins and All The Roadrunning with Emmylou Harris. He has also created film soundtracks for Local Hero, The Princess Bride and Cal. In addition to producing his own records, Knopfler has also produced albums for Bob Dylan and Randy Newman, amongst others. Knopfler was made an Order of the British Empire in 1999 and was given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ivor Novellos in 2012.
Down The Road Wherever will be available via digital download, CD, double vinyl, deluxe CD with three bonus tracks and a lavish box set that will include the album on both vinyl and deluxe CD and an additional 12” vinyl EP with 4 bonus tracks, a 12” print of the artwork and a 12” guitar tablature of ‘Back On The Dance Floor.’
‘There’s a grandfatherly charm throughout the record, both in the comfortable arrangements and Knopfler’s lyrical yarns. Everything about Down the Road Wherever feels warm and inviting; if each song is a miniature room, their display is in a cozy den that also boasts a roaring fire, capacious armchairs, heirloom quilts, and a smell like pipe tobacco and old books.’–NPR MUSIC
‘On his latest album, Down the Road Wherever, Knopfler serves up more than 70 minutes of music rooted in the Scottish Highlands (‘Drovers’ Road’), piano bars (‘When You Leave’) and cowboy country (‘Nobody’s Child’), among other locales.’–ASSOCIATED PRESS
‘Down the Road Wherever [is] a varied, uncommon yet inviting wander off Mark Knopfler’s usual path. He’s probing fresh sounds with the class and sophistication we’ve come to expect from this gifted veteran.’–AMERICAN SONGWRITER
