Music

Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La Tour - Bowl of Brooklands NZ

Robin Capper

27 Mar 2005 — 3 min read

Everyone I spoke to before going to New Plymouth said the Bowl of Brooklands was a wonderful venue. I hadn't been before but after a stunning day walking up through the park and into the venue I found that the descriptions were no exaggeration.

In a natural bowl surrounded by Pukekura Park “The Bowl” has open covered stage with a small duck pond in front complete with an ample population of ducks!

Beyond the pond is an area of shallow tiered seating in front of the stage (where I was) and then grass banking forms a natural amphitheatre (the photo below was taken early as the crowd arrived). Although the strong southerly wind, that was a pain and pleasure on my earlier bike ride, was still blowing it scooted over the top of the bowl so wasn’t a problem.

At 8:00pm Mark Knopfler and the band walked on stage and launched into the Geordie tribute Why Aye Man. The arrival was so low key (no announcement) that many were still buying drinks and food but soon headed to where they could see the performance.

It was the start of a magical show that was a mix of Dire Straits classics and his solo music. The mood swung from high-energy tracks like Walk of Life to subtler such as What It Is and Sailing To Philadelphia.

Classic Dire Straits tracks like Romeo & Juliet and Sultans Of Swing had subtle changes that made them fresh even though performed many times before. Of the solo work I was pleased to hear two of my favourites, Done With Bonaparte & Rüdiger live after enjoying both on the DVD “A night in London”.

It was funny to have ducks in the front row (!) and even the thunderous bass & drums during Speedway At Nazareth seemed not to worry them much. Occasionally you’d see a few flying across the top of the stage in the moonlit clear sky, a first for any concert I’ve attended!

The finale was a trip all the way down Telegraph Road. It was great to hear this live; for me the first time.

After a brief break the encores began with Brothers in Arms. Then Money For Nothing & So Far Away had the place jumping followed by Our Shangri-La from the new album.

The final encore was from my favourite sound-track Local Hero. Beautiful low key versions of Mist Covered Mountains & Going Home (just guitar & keyboard, no drums) ended the show nearly 2 1/2 hours after they walked on stage.

A magical end to the evening was a walk back through the park now lit by the TSB Festival of Lights (below). Thanks to Mark, the band and New Plymouth for a wonderful weekend.