The Straits St Georges Hall Bradford Review

Reviewed by Louise Totton

Dire Straits without Mark Knopfler – it couldn’t possibly work, could it? His voice, at the front of one of the most distinctive sounding groups Britain has produced, was surely essential to the success of a ‘Dire Straits’ concert. Or at least that’s what we thought before we sat down for possibly the most entertaining, professional and enjoyable concerts I have attended for a number of years.

I think, at best, we had expected a decent Dire Straits tribute act that happened to have a few original band members. What we actually witnessed could not have been more different. Whilst they exclusively perform the music of Dire Straits, The Straits really made it their own. Well, it partly was their own, thanks to original members Alan Clark and Chris White who performed with the same energy and enthusiasm they did twenty years ago. Lead singer and guitarist, Terence Reis, was simply fantastic. Although his voice is similar to Knopfler’s, he didn’t attempt to copy the man whose shoes he was filling. Instead, it felt like the songs he was singing could have been written for him. His guitar work was mesmerising and combined with the original band members and the session musicians who completed the line-up made for an ensemble that was so much more than a tribute band.

The Straits played their way through all the old favourites, Romeo and Juliet, Portobello Belle, the fabulous Sultans of Swing and more. Utterly faultless throughout and clearly having an amazing time up on stage, we could not have had a better night. We will most certainly be seeking out The Straits when they return from their American tour, and will most certainly be seeing them again.

5/5 without hesitation. Faultless.

Rating: 5/5

For more information or tour dates visit www.thestraits.com.