Mark Knopfler has unveiled his tenth solo album, 'One Deep River'.

Mark Knopfler is returning with a new album this April

Mark Knopfler is returning with a new album this April

The former Dire Straits star has shared the lead single, 'Ahead Of The Game'; featuring his signature riffs, it tells the tale of a struggling musician.

The full collection will arrive on April 12, 2024, via Knopfler's own British Grove label via EMI.

The album's title track is about the River Tyne in his home city of Newcastle in the North East of England.

Knopfler says: "Crossing the Tyne is always on your mind.

"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."

The ‘Walk of Life’ hitmaker is joined by 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 the pedal and lap steel.

Plus, Mike McGoldrick provides whistle and uilleann pipes, and John McCusker plays fiddle, while the Topolski sisters Emma and Tamsin add backing vocals.

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.

Meanwhile, on January 31, Knopfler is selling 120 of his guitars to benefit multiple charities, including the British Red Cross, Tusk and Brave Hearts Of The North East.

The sale will take place at Christie's in London, with estimates ranging from £300 to £500,000.

The full tracklistings are:

Standard Album Tracklist

'Two Pairs Of Hands'

'Ahead Of The Game'

'Smart Money'

'Scavengers Yard'

'Black Tie Jobs'

'Tunnel 13'

'Janine'

'Watch Me Gone'

'Sweeter Than The Rain'

'Before My Train Comes'

'This One’s Not Going To End Well'

'One Deep River'

Bonus Vinyl Tracklist (exclusively in boxset):

'Dolly Shop Man'

'Your Leading Man'

'Wrong ’un'

'Chess'

Bonus CD Tracklist (in boxset and deluxe CD):

'The Living End'

'Fat Chance Dupree'

'Along A Foreign Coast'

'What I’m Gonna Need'

'Nothing But Rain'