The Notting Hillbillies

The Notting Hillbillies
Mark Knopfler, founder of The Notting Hillbillies in concert
Background information
Genres	Country Alternative rock Skiffle
Labels	Vertigo (UK) Warner Bros. (US)
Associated acts	Dire Straits

The Notting Hillbillies was a country music project formed by Mark Knopfler, who was then lead guitarist and singer of the Dire Straits, with Brendan Croker, Steve Phillips, and Knopfler's bandmate Guy Fletcher. They made just one album, Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time. This album was released on Vertigo (Warner Bros. in the US) in 1990, before returning to concentrate on their primary musical outlets. The Notting Hillbillies have reunited several times for charity gigs. In May 1997 the Hillbillies went on an 11 show tour in the UK.^{[citation needed]}

The Town & Country Club in Leeds on July 3 only featured the Knopfler-Croker-Philips trio. The set list included the only known live performances of two Dire Straits songs : "Ticket To Heaven" and "How Long".^{[citation needed]} The Notting Hillbillies had previously performed "When It Comes to You" in 1990, before it was actually recorded and issued by Dire Straits on their final album On Every Street, in 1991.

The concert at The City Hall in Newcastle on July 6 featured Alan Clark on keyboards, his only appearance with the band. Ed Bicknell and Marcus Cliffe were also present. This was the last time that Clark played with Knopfler within a full band.

In 1993, two shows were performed, both without Guy Fletcher.

Band lineup members

• Mark Knopfler: guitar, vocals
• Guy Fletcher: keyboards, vocals
• Steve Phillips: guitar, vocals
• Brendan Croker: guitar, vocals
• Ed Bicknell: drums - replaced by Danny Cummings for the four 2002 shows.
• Marcus Cliffe: bass
• Chris White: Saxophone
• Paul Franklin: pedal steel (studio album and 1990 tour only)