THEY’VE the perfect warm-up man for Mark Knopfler – a black bandana and red T-shirt sporting, guitar rocking Mark II.

While the former leader of Dire Straits now performs as a solo artist with this enthusiastic seven piece tribute band, led by Ray Watson, local fans could hear again all Knopfler and co’s original popular numbers from the mid-’70s onwards.

The show wasn’t without its technical hitches – you’re risking it, of course, using the word Dire in your name – and for a while the balance definitely seemed somewhat out of kilter. Once sorted, though, they thankfully went on to give an audience-pleasing performance.

Along with providing the vocals, Watson was given ample space to show his stuff with the famous extended guitar solos, particularly so in the super charged Sultans Of Swing, and on acoustic in Private Investigations. Steve Wiltshire provided some attractive sax and flute sounds in numbers like Romeo And Juliet, and Latest Trick, while joining rhythm guitarist Rosemary Schonfeld and main drummer Phil Roberts, to form a knockout percussion trio backing to Calling Elvis.

Other favourites included Walk Of Life, Telegraph Road, the theme tune to the film Local Hero, and signing off in great Straits style, Solid Rock.