LOCAL hero Mark Knopfler is returning to his native North-East as part of a forthcoming European tour.

The former Dire Straits guitarist will be performing shows in summer next year, stopping at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Wednesday, May 20.

It will be the first opportunity for fans to hear live tracks from his upcoming album, Tracker, which is due to be released in January.

The 65-year-old, who grew up in Blyth, and went to school in Gosforth, Newcastle, said: “The thing about the old Straits songs is that these things are signposts for people’s lives.

“Obviously I’ll play things differently here and there to keep it alive and meaningful to me, and away from a cabaret thing.

“But there are things, like the twiddly bits at the end of ‘Sultans,’ if you don’t do your twiddly bits, the world’s not right for people. I like playing the old songs, I wrote them and people like to hear them, it’s as simple as that.”

Knopfler will be performing with a seven-piece band most of whom have been working with him for about 20 years.

Tickets costing £45 and £50 will go on sale at 9am on Friday and are available online at www.metroradioarena.co.uk from the booking hotline number 0844-493-6666 or in person from the Metro Radio Arena box office.