John Illsley (of Dire Straits): Playing the Classics from Dire Straits

Name: John Illsley (of Dire Straits): Playing the Classics from Dire Straits
Start: 2027-01-21T20:00:00+01:00
End: 2027-01-21T23:00:00+01:00
Location: De Oosterpoort

Thu, 21 Jan 2027 · 20:00

De Oosterpoort, Groningen

concert Rock date culture

John Illsley, bassist and co-founder of Dire Straits, performs an evening of classics from the band's catalogue.

John Illsley — also plays in other cities (1)

Wed, 20 Jan Amsterdam

all dates →

About: John Illsley

As co-founder and the one bassist who never left Dire Straits, John Illsley helped shift over 120 million albums worldwide. Following a sold-out Dutch run in December 2025, he returns for four exclusive shows packed with the band's classic catalogue.

120M+

Albums sold with Dire Straits

30M+

Copies sold of Brothers in Arms

1.9B

Streams of 'Sultans of Swing' on Spotify

Solo albums released

What's new

2026-07
After a sold-out tour in December 2025, John Illsley announces four new exclusive shows in the Netherlands, including performances in The Hague (Paard) and Amsterdam (Melkweg).
2025-12
Illsley performs four sold-out shows in the Netherlands to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Brothers in Arms, with performances in Haarlem, Uden, Enschede and Groningen.
2025-12
Quillette publishes an extensive interview with Illsley about the 40th anniversary of Brothers in Arms and the legacy of Dire Straits.

Tour

HaarlemUdenEnschedeGroningenDen HaagAmsterdam

Tracks

Sultans of SwingDebut single by Dire Straits (1978), more than 1.9 billion streams on Spotify

Money for NothingBiggest hit from Brothers in Arms (1985), winner of a Grammy Award

Brothers in ArmsTitle track of the album of the same name (1985), sold more than 30 million times

Romeo and JulietClassic from Making Movies (1980), permanent part of Illsley's live show

VIIIEighth solo album by Illsley, released in May 2022

John Illsley (of Dire Straits): Playing the Classics from Dire Straits

Concerts · Groningen 190 in the next 30 days →

🎬 Trailer

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