By my reckoning this is MK's 4th visit to Adelaide, the highpoint being the 1986 BIA tour when 55,000 people crammed into AAMI stadium (then known as Football Park) for the biggest concert this town has ever seen, a record not likely to be broken anytime soon. I also recall MK being here for the 1986 Australian F1 Grand Prix (before we lost it to Melbourne) where, while competing in the celebrity race lost control of his vehicle, slid into the tyre wall and broke his collarbone. Its been almost 14 years since I last saw DS during the OES tour that was also at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. That show left a lasting impression, so it was with much anticipation that I attended tonights show and I was not disappointed. Tonights show was awesome, the band played a tight, controlled gig, with the only problem I could detect being a guitar lead falling out of Richard B's guitar. I won't go into every song, suffice to say that we had an identical setlist to the Perth show mentioned in Guy's tour diary. Guy's comments in respect to MK's voice had me worried in the days leading up to the concert ( I've only been waiting 14 years for MK to return) but I can assure readers that apart from a mild cough in between songs I could not detect any problems with vocal range etc. MK seemed relaxed and was chatty between songs, poking fun at himself for some of the song material particularly Boom, like that and Trawlermans Song. Among the stand out moments for me was Chad's drumming in Telegraph Road, Matt R's lead-in on the accordian to Local Hero (?) and Richard B playing the cowbell on MFN. Also funny when someone from the crowd yelled out 'Hey Dr Fletch !' and Guy gave the thumbs up. All in all a terrific show, all songs receiving generous applause from the 6,000 strong audience, particularly the chestnuts Telegraph Road, Romeo & Juliet etc. Great to see MK in Australia and lets hope its not another 14 years before we see him again. Cheers, Russell Williams

Just after 8pm last night, Mark Knopfler & a bunch of extremely talented muso’s (unofficially named the 96’ers), walked onto the stage of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre after a thirteen year absence. Two & a half hours later, they left, but only after astounding 3,000+ Adelaide folk. A mix of old a new material interwoven to cover a career for Mark spanning four decades which has delivered hits, anthems, ballads, soundtracks & those little melodies you find stuck in your head as you go about your daily business. There is a reason Mark is still one of the greats & he proved it to still be going strong only part-way into the twenty-eight country “Shangri-la” world tour. The setlist is as follows; Why Aye Man Walk of Life What It Is Sailing to Philadelphia Trawlerman’s Song Romeo & Juliet Sultans of Swing Done with Bonaparte Song for Sonny Liston Donegan’s Gone Rudiger All That Matters Speedway At Nazareth Boom, Like That Telegraph Road Brothers in Arms Money For Nothing So Far Away The Mist Covered Mountains/Wild Theme I’ve seen three concerts at the Entertainment Centre in the last twelve months & each has had amazing sound quality. From the subtle slide work in Donegan’s Gone to a roof raising crescendo in Telegraph Road, every note came through crystal clear. I had planned to record the entire show but only obtained the second half due to inexperience with minidisc button pressing in complete darkness! The usual guitars were present with the priceless National Resonator (cover of Brothers In Arms), the various Gibson Les Pauls & even Mark's new Fender signature Strat getting a run. Lots of nice amps on stage, including some brilliant orange Marshalls gracing the area in front of Chad Cromwell's drum kit. Glenn Worf was back with a new (second-hand) double bass, after serious damage occured to his original during the flight from India to Perth. A skittle set with the full band playing some of Knopfler’s new material right at the front of the stage, was well received & brought a new dimension to the show after Sultans, which rocked the house. Song for Sonny Liston was brought down to a three piece band & has really stuck with me as a highlight. MK & some hardcore finger pickin' - it doesn't get any better. Actually, the whole damn thing was a highlight. Mark & Guy performing the Wild Theme after the serenity of Matt Rollins on Accordion for The Mist Covered Mountains was a fitting end & under a starry backdrop. Thanks to Mark & the lads for one of the best nights ever & don't wait another thirteen years to return!!

what a blast.....an echo back to the purity of Dire Straits first two albums, a mellow approach to the songs, informal, almost ensemble delivery of many tracks, the quality, delivery and variety of the performance was fantastic. Started with Why Aye Man, finished with Telegraph Road, which was an absolute show stopper, I listened carefully for the little riffs that appear on the Album and those and many more were there in abundance. Closing my eyes, the wall of sound, the depth and precision of Mark's guitar playing were mind blowing. Coming down to the front of the stage to play "Lonnie's gone" and getting intimacy with a packed entertainment centre was fantastic. Delivery of "Romeo and Juliet" was actually very poingant, and harked back to the mid-80s when this was the love song of many an adolescent boy, and delivered almost with sadness. Hard to think of the 80's as a previous era..... The haunting qualities on "Sailing to Philadelphia" ('forests of the Iroquios'....with vocal emphasis in the Iroquois) and Brother's in Arms. I was remined of the 1980 (?) sydney concert, the same arm pumping movements, the same apparent uncertainty on how to end a song (crescendo after crescendo !!!, which was all good), Sultans of Swing was played without the (to me) annoying keyboards that can take over (Alchemie version), 3 guitars and a drum kit.....unbelievable....and Speedway at Nazareth, the long jam session went on and on, just filling the head with music.....That is what made the concert so good, Improvisation, lay the core of the song down and let loose with the guitar. Sure a lot of structure, but I want to hear Mark Knopfler in concert, not in the studio, the double ring on Sultan's of Swing.....yup, awesome flow to the music....you guys gathering this was a great concert ? :-D The fine musicians Mark has gathered around himself, played flawlessly (to my humble ears), nothing overdone, everything honed tightly, far more tightly than I've heard before. No demonstrative stage stuff, no mind blowing optical effects to mask the lack of muscicanship, it was an awesome, well balanced and finely tuned performance from a fine, fine band. A very appreciative audience who knew the stuff and hooted and hollered for more. 2 encores, finished with Local Hero Thanks Mark for taking the time to share your music with us down in Australia. Somewhere there is a touch of sadness that this may be the last time I get to see this kind of performance and I didn't take my 9yo son along. I'm an idiot. as an afternote....I drove 5 hours to get to the show, drove 4 hours home and hit a 'roo just south of Keith......damage bill is quite large (and the 'roo didn't make it.....). The price eh ? :lol: awesome, awesome, awesome.......