Mark Knopfler releases his eighth solo album on March 16th 2015. The former Dire Straits frontman has sold 130 million albums worldwide as part of the Grammy and BRIT awardwinning band, and as an artist in his own right. Entitled TRACKER the new album features 11 new Knopfler songs inspired by a wide range of subjects including Beryl Bainbridge and Basil Bunting. The songs contain Mark’s usual wryly but accurately observed vignettes of real life wrapped up in a musical accompaniment of distinctive subtlety. TRACKER has been produced by Knopfler and Guy Fletcher and was recorded at British Grove Studios in London. The band features Mark Knopfler on guitars, Guy Fletcher on keyboards, John McCusker on fiddle, Mike McGoldrick on whistle and flute, Glenn Worf on bass and Ian Thomas on drums. Guest musicians include Ruth Moody (from The Wailin’ Jennys) on vocals, Nigel Hitchcock on saxophone and Phil Cunningham on accordion. Knopfler says: “The album title ‘Tracker’ arrived out of me trying to find my way over the decades. Out of me tracking time – looking at people, places and things from my past, and out of the process of tracking as in recording tracks in the studio." Mark Knopfler has released seven solo albums as well as recording ‘Neck And Neck’ with one of his guitar heroes, Chet Atkins and collaborated with Emmylou Harris on ‘All The Roadrunning’. He has created soundtracks for ‘Local Hero’ and ‘The Princess Bride’ and is currently working on a new film, Altamira. In addition to producing his own records Knopfler has also produced albums for Bob Dylan and Randy Newman amongst others. Knopfler was made an OBE in 1999 and was given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ivor Novello Awards in 2012. TRACKER will be available on CD, double vinyl, deluxe CD with four bonus tracks, and a lavish box set that will include the album on both CD and vinyl with a bonus CD featuring six extra tracks, a DVD with an exclusive short film directed by Henrik Hansen and an interview with Mark where he talks about the new record. Sleeve notes have been specially written by acclaimed US author Richard Ford and it also contains a numbered art print and six photographic prints.