Mark Knopfler Confirms 1st Album Since 2018 & Shares Wistful Lead Single ‘Ahead Of The Game’

Mark Knopfler will issue his first album in over five years, One Deep River, on April 12 on his British Grove label via Blue Note/EMI. The legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter shared the lead single, “Ahead Of The Game.”

One Deep River is Mark Knopfler’s first album since 2018’s Down the Road Wherever. Knopfler co-produced One Deep River at his state-of-the-art British Grove Studios in London with longtime collaborator Guy Fletcher.

Along with Knopfler and Fletcher (keyboards), players on the album include keyboardist Jim Cox, bassist Glenn Worf, drummer Ian Thomas, percussionist Danny Cummings, guitarist Richard Bennett, pedal steel/lap steel guitarist Greg Leisz, whistle/uilleann pipes player Mike McGoldrick and fiddler John McCusker. Emma and Tamsin Topolski provide backing vocals.

The LP’s title and final track, “One Deep River,” sees Knopfler reflecting on his childhood home of Newcastle and the river that runs through it.

“Crossing the Tyne is always on your mind,” he said. “It’s what you were doing when you were leaving as a youngster and that feeling is always the same every time you do it. You’re heading out or you’re coming back, and it just connects with your childhood. The power of it doesn’t go away.”

As for lead single, “Ahead Of The Game,” a press release described it as “a wistful story about a singer/songwriter struggling to make it, set to a distinctively Knopfler riff.” Listen to “Ahead Of The Game” below:

One Deep River Tracklist

1. Two Pairs Of Hands
2. Ahead Of The Game
3. Smart Money
4. Scavengers Yard
5. Black Tie Jobs
6. Tunnel 13
7. Janine
8. Watch Me Gone
9. Sweeter Than The Rain
10. Before My Train Comes
11. This One’s Not Going To End Well
12. One Deep River