MUSOS, Barry Thomson, Dawn Selby, Mali Sewell, Jason Andrew and guest guitarist, Shaun Dragt of The Reals, pay tribute to the music of Mark Knopfler and his band, Dire Straits, at the Rhumbelow Theatre in Durban this weekend.
Dire Straits was a British rock band formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar) and his younger brother, David Knopfler. Their sound was influenced by a variety of musical styles including jazz, folk and blues, and contrasted with the prominence of punk rock during their early years. Their more conventional sound appealed to modern audiences weary of the overproduced stadium rock of the 1970s.
Dire Straits’ fifth album, Brothers in Arms, released in May 1985, was their highest-selling studio album with sales of more than 30 million copies. It was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first compact disc to sell a million copies, helping to popularise the CD format. It was one of the first albums recorded on digital equipment and the title track is reported to be the world’s first CD single. In August 1986, the song, which launched MTV Europe, was another Knopfler hit, ‘Money for Nothing’, and featured Sting in a cameo vocal role.
To date, Dire Straits have sold in excess of 120 million albums and this show features a selection of their hit songs including Brothers in Arms, Walk of Life, So Far Away, Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love, Private Investigations and Money for Nothing.
Shows are on Friday, 15 April at 8pm, Saturday, 16 April at 8pm, and Sunday, 17 April at 2pm and again at 6.30pm. The venue, which is situated at 42 Cunningham Road off Bartle Road in Umbilo, opens 90 minutes before show for picnic dinner.
Tickets are R140 each or R120 each for pensioners or tables of eight or more. Take your own picnic basket. Bar available. No drinks allowed to be brought into the venue. Braais will be available should you wish to cook some meat. There is limited secure parking available.
Book through Computicket or contact Roland on 082 499 8636 or e-mail roland@stansell.za.net events.durbantheatre.com.
