Mark Knopfler will release his tenth solo studio album on April 12th 2024 on his own British Grove label via EMI. Entitled “One Deep River”, it features “12 unhurriedly elegant new Knopfler songs, and his warm Geordie vocal tone, his poetic storytelling lyrics and deft, richly melodic guitar playing are all present and correct and as dazzling as ever.” The first single from the album ‘Ahead Of The Game’, is described as a wistful, perhaps autobiographical, story about a singer/songwriter struggling to make it, set to a distinctively Knopfleresque classic riff – you can listen to it below.

The title track for the album “One Deep River” reflects Knopfler’s deep affection for the river that runs through his childhood home city Newcastle. “Crossing the Tyne is always on your mind,” he says. “It’s what you were doing when you were leaving as a youngster and that feeling is always the same every time you do it. You’re heading out or you’re coming back, and it just connects with your childhood. The power of it doesn’t go away.”

“One Deep River” was produced by Knopfler and his longstanding collaborator Guy Fletcher and was recorded at his state of the art British Grove Studios in London. The album will be available on CD, deluxe 2CD, double gatefold vinyl, cassette and a special limited edition box set that will include the album on both vinyl and CD, 5 bonus tracks on CD, 4 exclusive bonus tracks on LP, a litho print of Mark and some of the guitars played on the record, a guitar pick set and tin, and an enamel badge.

The band on the new album features Knopfler on guitars, Jim Cox and Guy Fletcher on keyboards, Glenn Worf on bass, Ian Thomas on drums and Danny Cummings on percussion, Richard Bennett on guitar, and newcomer Greg Leisz on pedal and lap steel; Mike McGoldrick provides whistle and uilleann pipes, and John McCusker plays fiddle, while the Topolski sisters Emma and Tamsin add backing vocals. All songs are written by Knopfler himself.

The album is available to pre-order from this link. Look out for a review on AUK nearer its release date.