2008.05.21, Newcastle City Hall
Taped by KTGC Taper 1, aka Martina
edited by Pottel
Artwork By Nelly
A Mark in Time Production
www.amarkintime.org/forum 

This one is a present from Martina to the Mark Knopfler fan community, and at the same time an invitation to the newest and best Knopfler/Straits forum on the globe 
www.amarkintime.org/forum
a forum for fans by fans, totally independent and "unofficial":-)

This was one of the few times "Secondary Waltz" was played on this tour. also the fact that this is in Mark's "hometown" adds to the atmosphere.
Thanks to the band, and to Guy and Richard for their awesome online tour diaries
Sound quality is excellent.

Lineage:
Roland Edirol R09HR > Audacity > WAV > Traders Little Helper > Flac level 6 > you!!

Setlist:
cd1
1. Cannibals 5:59
2. Why Aye Man 6:57
3. What It Is 5:18
4. Sailing to Philadelphia 6:57
5. True Love Will Never Fade 5:09
6. The Fish and The Bird 4:20
7. Hill Farmer's Blues 4:50
8. Romeo and Juliet 9:00
9. Sultans of Swing 8:30

cd2
10. Marbletown 12:32
11. Secondary Waltz 5:28
12. Postcards From Paraguay 5:06
13. Speedway At Nazareth 6:55
14. Telegraph Road 13:45
15. Brothers in Arms 7:12
16. Our Shangri-La 7:09
17. So Far Away 5:09
18. Going Home 5:47



the band:
 Mark Knopfler (Guitar / Vocals)	  
Richard Bennett (Guitar)	
Danny Cummings (Drums)	  
Guy Fletcher (Keyboards)	
Matt Rollings (Piano / Organ / Accordion)	  
Glenn Worf (Bass)	  
John McCusker (Fiddle / Cithern / Whistle)

E*diary comment from Guy:
Once again, a difficult load-in for the boys in the crew. 
I'm always in awe of just how they manage to squeeze our production into this tiny auditorium. 
In fact several compromises are made, my keyboard riser is chopped in half to accommodate Glenn's guitar station. 
Indeed, one of the Reinhardt amps sits atop my leslie cab. 
I had to be mindful of the large gap which was perilously close to my chair legs. 
One slip and it could end in tears. 
The lights were a bit cut-down again but hopefully it didn't detract too much from what turned out to be a magical show. 
Well, it always is here.

Mark is a patron of a wonderful charity called Brave Hearts and today's meet and greet was specially arranged in the band dressing room for a very brave lad. 9 year old Bradley Downes has been diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer and Mark presented him with a Brave Hearts award.
Please visit Bradley's fund website for all the information and if you think you may be able to help with donations or fundraising events.
The after show party in the bar of the city hall was attended by many of our mates including Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips. 
Also, supremely catered by Steve, and the boys with plates of sushi, steak in satay, samosas and some amazing deep fried vegetable 'thingys'
After the city hall, the band rolled up at the Grey Street hotel en masse, and it was decided that we all retire to the bar for a nightcap as the rooms here are tiny, whereupon Richard decided it was necessary to show the barman how to make a proper Gin Martini.


E*diary Comment from Richard:

We arrived in Newcastle last night after our show in Belfast and pulled up to a little boutique hotel where we are staying. 
I'm sure it must be an old, converted office building that has been given a new, ill-fitting incarnation. 
Look, I'm not a spoiled type, it takes a lot for me to complain about a hotel or a room. 
As long as it's clean, has a shower and a half-way decent bed, it'll do. 
I once knew a guy who would change hotels if he didn't like the chocolates left on the pillow. 
Not me. That said, this hotel is amazingly weird, inefficient, tiny, dirty, fixtures broken, stinks of fish and there's not even a clock in my room. 
I had to call down to reception this morning to find out what time it was, but there was nobody on duty so no answer! 
The kind of place that makes you wish for a Holiday Inn. 
Let's put it this way, you don't want to walk around bare-footed on the carpet, not in my room anyway. 
The description in our itinerary of the place was'...If you've ever searched for a dog-friendly boutique hotel in Newcastle.' Right. 

Of course the concept of a gym is far too abstract for this joint so I was directed to a very good one just a few blocks away and put in a couple of hours there. 
After that I was completely starving and headed straight to the nearest Pret-A-Manger. 
For those outside the U.K., Pret is a chain of sandwich stores that is second to none in my book, incredibly fresh, delicious and interesting sandwiches. 
My latest fave is their sliced chicken breast with avocado and rocket...genius. 
The fact that you can also get a darn good latte there is a bonus not to mention desserts. 
Seems like there's a Pret every two or three block in England's main cities, I sure wish we had them in the States. 
Actually, there is one in Manhattan but that's a far cry from Nashville. 

Tonight's show is one of those that we look forward to, Newcastle City Hall. 
Similar in inconvenience to the Edinburgh Playhouse for the crew, except smaller. 
The capacity is less than 2,000. 
The far ends of the upper balcony wrap around to the edges of the stage and you can nearly touch somebody sitting there. 
Because of the size and difficulty loading in, it becomes a very stripped-down evening in terms of production but is more than made up for in excitement and performance and tonight's show and audience was no exception. 
Mark made mention that the first rock and roll show he attended was here and he sat in the balcony. 
The Newcastle crowd always gives Mark a brilliant welcome home. 

After the show we had the usual party in the City Hall bar at the front of the venue, seeing old friends and acquaintances we look forward to visiting with. 
Loads of great hors d'orves courtesy of our caterers, Angus, Chris and Steve and drinks a-plenty. 
When all the shouting was over it was back to the absolute crappest hotel ever where we, en masse, took over the little bar downstairs and continued the party. 
The bar tender invited me to mix my own martinis, a very dangerous invitation that I readily took him up on. 
Behind the bar I went, deftly wielding the shaker, ice, gin and vermouth! 
We most certainly have a hands down winner for the worst hotel of the tour, but the little bar downstairs ended up being very cool indeed. 

So long, 

Richard


A Mark in Time Production
www.amarkintime.org/forum 
