The Straits Coming To U.S.

Dire Straits main keyboardist Alan Clark and saxophonist Chris White who played with the band for more than a decade make up The Straits’ core.  They’re joined by musicians Steve Ferrone, Mickey Feat, Adam Phillips and Jamie Squire to produce a sound that’s been drawing critical acclaim in Europe while playing to capacity-packed crowds.

Who has the stones to fill Dire Straits frontman/founder Mark Knopfler’s shoes?  Clark explains:

“I’d always thought it would be impossible to replace the huge talent that is Mark Knopfler until I discovered the brilliant Terence Reis.”

Covering both coasts with several stops in between, The Straits will begin its journey through the U.S., in Manistee, Mich., and conclude the adventure in Las Vegas.  Destinations include Tucson, Seattle, Annapolis, Portland Maine, Portland, Ore., and Albuquerque, N.M.  Here’s the routing:

Feb. 28 – Manistee, Mich., Little River Casino Resort
March 1 – Annapolis, Md., Rams Head On Stage
March 2 – Portland, Maine, Asylum
March 3 – Buffalo, N.Y., Kleinhans Music Hall
March 4 – Red Bank, N.J.  Count Basie Theatre 
March 5 – Englewood, N.J., Bergen Performing Arts Ctr.
March 6 – Grand Forks, N.D., Chester Fritz Auditorium
March 7 – Saint Charles, Ill., Arcada Theatre
March 8 – Osceola, Iowa, Lakeside Casino
March 9 – Grand Forks, N.D., Chester Fritz Auditorium
March 15 – Flagstaff, Ariz., Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort
March 16 – Tucson, Ariz., Fox Tucson Theatre
March 20 – Lakeland, Fla., The Lakeland Center
March 22 – Albuquerque, N.M., Isleta Resort & Casino
March 24 – Seattle, Wash., The Neptune
March 25 – Portland, Ore., Alhambra Theatre
March 26 – Tuolumne, Calif., Black Oak Casino
March 27 – Boise, Idaho., Egyptian Theatre
March 28 – Atlantic City, N.J., Montbleu Casino Resort
March 29 – Las Vegas, Nev., Cannery Casino Hotel

Tickets for several shows are already on sale.  Visit TheStraits.com for more information.