Mark Knopfler is currently on the road in support of his new solo album, Down the Road Wherever. As it turns out, the legendary Dire Straits guitarist has made an eyebrow-raising gear choice for the tour.
In a post on his website, Knopfler's keyboardist and co-producer, Guy Fletcher, revealed that Knopfler is now using Kemper profiling amps onstage.
"Many people have commented or asked about what we are using for amplifiers for the guitars since the stage is devoid of such things, largely to accommodate the huge band," Fletcher wrote. "Some have guessed correctly, we are using Kemper profiling amps.
"Mark’s long-serving guitar tech, Glenn Saggers, along with Mark has devoted much of his time in the past six months to recreating Mark’s unique sounds [and] has done an amazing job," he continued. "This switch from ‘real’ amps to digital devices is not for the faint-hearted and it wasn’t without its doubters. Now we are up and running and more than two weeks into the tour, we are all on board with them.
"They certainly allow for incredible separation in both in-ear monitors and front of house system. The sounds are amazingly responsive and malleable."
Knopfler will tour North America later this summer. You can check out his full itinerary below.
Mark Knopfler 2019 North American tour:
August 16 Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods Resort Casino
August 17 Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Opera House
August 18 Vienna, VA Filene Center at Wolf Trap
August 20 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
August 21 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
August 23 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
August 24 Montreal, QC Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier
August 25 Toronto, ON Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
August 27 Indianapolis, IN Old National Centre