Mark Knopfler to Release EP on June 28, 2005

Press release
Source: The Lippin Group

Former Dire Straits Frontman Records Eight Songs Live for Warners Bros. EP

Coinciding with his return to the U.S. stage and his first concert tour in four years, Mark Knopfler has released his first live solo EP, "One Take Radio Sessions." Recorded in "one take" at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California, this past summer, the former Dire Straits frontman ("Sultans Of Swing" and "Money For Nothing," the song that helped immortalize the phrase "I Want My MTV") sat down with his band and recorded seven tracks from his current CD, "Shangri-La." Also included on the exceptional "One Take Radio Sessions" is "Rudiger" from Mark's first solo album, "Golden Heart."

The specially priced EP, set for release by Warner Bros. Records on June 28, 2005, will allow fans to hear live versions of "The Trawlerman's Song," "Back To Tupelo," "Song For Sonny Liston," "Boom, Like That," "Everybody Pays," "Donegan's Gone," and "Stand Up Guy," all from the "Shangri-La" CD. In addition, Mark and his band perform the song titled "Rudiger," first released in 1996.

Original versions of all songs (except "Rudiger") are on the Mark Knopfler album, "Shangri-La," which is currently available in a deluxe edition that includes both the CD and a DVD featuring behind the scenes interviews and performances of four songs including the previously unreleased track, "Summer Of Love."

The band that accompanies Mark Knopfler (vocals and guitars) on "One Take Radio Sessions" features Richard Bennett (guitar), Jim Cox and Matt Rollings (keyboards), Glenn Worf (bass) and Chad Cromwell (drums). In addition, Doug Pettibone plays electric guitar on "Back To Tupelo" and "Boom, Like That" and mandolin on "Stand Up Guy." The recording was engineered and mixed by Chuck Ainlay.

Mark Knopfler's worldwide "Shangri-La" concert tour hits the United States at the time of the release of the EP (U.S. itinerary below):

Tour Itinerary:
June 24 Portsmouth, VA NTELOS Pavilion Harbor Center
June 25 Philadelphia, PA Mann Center for the Performing Arts
June 26 Vienna, VA The Filene Center
June 28 Newark, NJ New Jersey Performing Arts Center
June 29 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
June 30 Florence, MA Pines Theatre

July 1 Boston, MA Fleet Boston Pavilion
July 2 Montreal, QC Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier/Place des Arts
July 3 Ottawa, ON National Arts Centre
July 5 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre
July 7 London, ON John Labatt Centre
July 8 Rochester Hills, MI MeadowBrook Amphitheater
July 9 Kettering, OH Fraze Pavilion at Lincoln Park Center
July 12 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheater
July 13 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
July 14 Indianapolis, IN Murat Theatre
July 15 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
July 16 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Theater
July 17 Minneapolis, MN Orpheum Theatre

All dates below with special guest William Topley
July 19 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater
July 20 Salt Lake City, UT Abravanel Hall
July 21 Las Vegas, NV The Joint
July 22 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
July 23 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre - Berkeley
July 24 San Diego, CA Copley Symphony Hall
July 27 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery
July 28 Jacksonville, OR Britt Pavilion

SOLD OUT:
July 29 Portland, OR Schnitzer Concert Hall
July 30 Woodinville, WA Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
July 31 Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre

For information online visit: www.wbr.com or www.mark-knopfler-news.co.uk.