The connection between Straits and Mark Knopfler’s famous band is made through three musicians who used to play in Dire Straits. Keyboardist Alan Clark joined in 1980; saxophonist Chris White in ’85 and guitarist Phil Palmer arrived in 1991. Along with Terence Reis on lead vocals and guitar, drummer Steve Ferrone, bassist Mick Feat and keyboardist Jamie Squire, the band launches its “Sounds Of Dire Straits” tour in Birmingham, England, at the Symphony Hall Oct. 3.

Other stops include Glasgow’s Royal Concert Oct. 4; Newcastle City Hall Oct. 5; York at Barbican Oct. 7; Cardiff at St. Davids Hall Oct. 9; Bristol’s Colston Hall Oct. 10; London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo Oct. 12; Ipswitch at the Regent Oct. 13; the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall Oct. 14; Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall Oct. 16 and Manchester at the O2 Apollo Oct. 17.

Is this a tour featuring musicians playing the music they were associated with, or is this merely a tribute act boasting of having direct ties to the original band founded by Knopfler brothers Mark and David? You may think the connections to Dire Straits might be a tad thin, but Clark, White and Palmer were good enough to play with Mark Knopfler back in the day. The big question is whether they can satisfy fans hungry for Dire Straits music today. The answer lies in the tour launching in October.

For more information, check out TheStraits.com.