The string of dates will take Knopfler to theatres in mostly major markets through the United States and Canada. He’ll have a full band along for the ride, including keyboardists Guy Fletcher and Geraint Watkins, guitarists Richard Bennett and Mike Henderson, bassist Glenn Worf and drummer Chad Cromwell.

Knopfler and friends will touch down April 23 at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston and work their way west with confirmed stops including Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; New York City; Ottawa; Toronto; Detroit; and Vancouver.

Cities expected to have dates firmed up soon include Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle.

As soon as those dates are confirmed, fans signing up for Pollstar’s Auto-Notify feature will receive an e-mail alert with the latest information.

After several years of producing and performing on other people’s recordings and scoring soundtracks since the demise of the band that made him famous, Knopfler is back with only his second solo recording, Sailing To Philadelphia. The disc was released in September.

The world tour is scheduled to launch March 27 at the National Auditorium in Mexico City and head into South America before the U.S. dates.

So far, the tour will keep Knopfler on the road until at least late July.

Knopfler and Dire Straits were at the peak of their careers in the mid-1980s, particularly with the release of 1985’s Brothers In Arms. According to Knopfler’s official biography, they played 234 shows in 12 months to a combined audience of 2.5 million during the Brothers In Arms world tour.

He also took up scoring movie soundtracks, starting auspiciously with “Local Hero” in 1983. He produced Tina Turner, toured with Chet Atkins and started a side project – The Notting Hillbillies – before finally declaring Dire Straits dead in 1995.

His solo debut didn’t come until the release of Golden Heart in 1996. Since then, he’s scored the films “Wag The Dog” and “Metroland” before starting work on Sailing To Philadelphia.