Dire Straits are unlikely to be playing the Playhouse in Whitley Bay any time soon, but this February you can see the next best thing…

Money For Nothing formed in 2000 with the express purpose of paying tribute to one of the world’s premier classic rock bands, Dire Straits. And, as thousands of happy gig-goers can testify over the past 25 years, they’ve certainly delivered on that score. The band has been in demand right around the world, and they’ve also had the distinction of headlining the main stage at Europe’s biggest ever tribute festival. But it’s not just fans who have been fulsome in the praise. Critics have also been in full frothing mode with the likes of the Observer opining: “Make no mistake, they are good, very good.” Dire Straits, of course, need little introduction in the north-east but it’s sometimes easy to forget that they’re one of the UK’s biggest selling acts, having shifted in excess of 120 million albums. This tribute show will feature all their biggies from ‘Sultans of Swing’ to ‘Brothers in Arms’. GM

Money For Nothing, Thursday 27 February, Playhouse Whitley Bay, 7.30pm, £30, playhousewhitleybay.co.uk