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Author: John Maul

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Well here we are in 2024 and I’m feeling very guilty about neglecting my ‘Latest News’ page for the last few months. So here’s a summary of the Dire Straits Experience travels.

The band continued with various shows in Europe including an 18 date tour in the Netherlands and France in November. Sadly our Israel tour scheduled for mid October was postponed due to horrific conflict situation out there.

Already 2024 is looking busy kicking off with shows in Finland and Zagreb this month. March includes Czech, Austria. Slovakia and Sweden.  

I’m glad to say the popularity of the band continues to grow. Audiences are ever more enthusiastic and varied in age ranges. We’re often so surprised to see younger people at our gigs mouthing the words to these classic songs. A testament to the long lasting quality of Mr Knopfler’s genius.

For more details of the band’s movements this year - click on the link below

Tour Dates

 

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I had the pleasure of working with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra last December at the infamous concert Hall on a Symphonic 80s gig. It was a fun packed evening of classic hits from the decade performed by 4 amazing singers (Emma Kershaw, Katie Birtill, Oliver Tompsett, and Patrick Smyth) with maestro Rob Eckland, conductor and arranger of many of the songs played . It was so lovely to see the orchestra dressing up in full 80s regalia and no doubt enjoying a break from the usual demanding repertoire. 

Click on the link below for details of the concert 

https://www.liverpoolphil.com/whats-on/all-shows/symphonic-80s/8775

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November the 15th was a very special day not only for Yamaha fans but also for the R&D team that I’ve had the privilege of working with for the last 4 years. We saw the release of the long awaited Genos 2, the new flagship arranger keyboard. The sound and technology is simply breathtaking. I’m honoured to have contributed to this amazing product and to have worked alongside some of the most talented musicians in the industry. To hear a little of what this keyboard can do, click on the link below and listen to the amazing Martin Harris.

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Fun was had by all on Saturday 18th March in Viborg Tinghallen DENMARK. Another slice of 80s Pop history was delivered to our appreciative Danish audience - including Katrina (of the Waves) , Paul Young and Boney M. I was proud to MD the ‘Here and Now’ 5-piece house band as they worked their way through over 20 classic hits. 

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This was a very welcome diversion from the norm for me. Hazel Ross, virtuoso violinist and co-founder of the dynamic violin duo team, ‘Elektra’, asked me to create a medley of Queen songs for the cruise liner shows coming up this year. Not only was it nice to come back to my classical roots arranging for two violins, it was a pleasure to be able to contribute to the entire project as a keyboardist and programmer. If you’d like to know more about this fabulous show, click on the link - https://elektraviolins.com

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Thanks to my good friend and Musical Director, Clive Dunstall, I’ve been helping with the preparation and arranging of orchestral charts for the upcoming Matt Goss UK tour. The 80s pop icon will be having a full swing big band with a complement of string players so the production looks to be a very impressive sounding one. For more information click on the link - https://www.mattgosstour.com

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I’m looking forward to performing with 80s singer, Limahl (originally from Kajagoogoo) in September and his band. We’ll be appearing at Butlins Minehead on Sunday 18th September and Butlins Skegness on the following Saturday the 24th. Whilst this isn’t the first time I have worked with Limahl, it will be a chance to perform a full hour’s set of songs from the 80s with him rather than the usual short Festival sets. 

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It has been awhile since my last update but I’m glad to say this is not because of a lack work. On the contrary, life is definitely getting busier again, especially with the gigs I’m pleased to say.

From May onwards The Dire Straits Experience have continued to see their schedule get fuller. There was a short trip to France with 3 shows in Rouen, Caen and Angers. We visited Madeira in June. I took a two week holiday break from mid July only to return in August with more gigs in Majorca, Switzerland and Germany. The big tour is coming up in September  with 14 shows in France starting in Provence and finishing in Toulouse. 

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I’m glad to say some normality has finally returned to gigging life, albeit slowly and cautiously.

The Dire Straits Experience have at last been busy. March included a two week tour of France with no less than 11 shows, all with fantastic audiences, food and hospitality. After a brief 3 day respite back home we then had a gig in Prague followed by two in Austria , again fabulous audiences. And just last weekend we performed at the Magma Art Venue in Tenerife.  Coming up is this month is the Azores, Finland and Germany. So it’s good to be back and seeing living breathing audiences, even if wearing face masks. Here’s to the promise of a good and busy year in 2022.