Europe will be getting one of this year’s best tour packages when Mark Knopfler and Bob Dylan set out for the continent starting in October.

Knopfler and Dylan, each touring with their own band, will kick off the outing on October 6 at O2 Dublin in Ireland and then head over for Scotland for shows on October 8 and 9 at Braehead Arena in Glasgow. They continue on from there to the UK. On October 10, they will perform at Manchester’s Evening News Arena; on October 11 at CapitalFM Arena in Nottingham; on October 13 at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff and on October 14 at International Center in Bournmouth.

The tour will then head over the channel to Lille, France where they will perform a gig on October 16 at Zenith Arena. Other stops include October 17 in Paris; October 19 in Merksem, Belgium; October 20 in Rotterdam; October 26 in Munich; November 4 in Stockholm; November 12 in Rome and November 15 in Geneva. Currently, the trek is scheduled to wrap up on November 16 at Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland.

Dylan and Knopfler have been associated since the late 1970s. Dylan invited Knopfler to perform on his album “Slow Train Coming” after seeing Knopfler’s band Dire Straits performing at the Roxy in West Hollywood. Later, Knopfler produced the Dylan album “Infidels.”

Details for tickets haven’t been announced yet. For more information, visit bobdylan.com or markknopfler.com.

Ex-Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler is already penciling in his calendar for spring as he sets up a 23-city tour to support his latest release “Get Lucky.” The North American jaunt gets started in Seattle, Washington on April 8 and spirals its way through early May closing in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Knopfler will pack his bags for Europe afterwards to continue touring into July.

“Get Lucky,” released on September 15, follows the Grammy winning album from 2007 “Kill to Get Crimson.” Knopfler broke from the multi-platinum success of Dire Straits with the release of his 1996 album “Golden Heart.” He was honored by Rolling Stone as the 27th greatest guitarist of all time in 2003.

2009 Mark Knopfler Tour Dates
April 2010
8 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre
9 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
10 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium
11 – Eugene, OR – Hult Center for the Performing Arts
13 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theater
14 – Santa Rosa, CA – Wells Fargo Centre for the Arts
15 – Temecula, CA – Pechanga Resort & Casino
16 – Los Angeles, CA – Pantages Theatre
18 – Phoenix, AZ – Dodge Theatre
20 – Denver, CO – Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
21 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland by AMC
22 – St. Louis, MO – Fabulous Fox Theatre
23 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
24 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theatre
25 – Minneapolis, MN – The State Theatre
27 – Ann Arbor, MI – Michigan Theater
28 – Buffalo, NY – University at Buffalo
29 – Toronto, Ontario – Massey Hall
30 – Montreal, Quebec – Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier

May 2010
1 – Mashantucket, CT – MGM Grand at Foxwoods
2 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
4 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
5 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theatre
6 – New York, NY – United Palace
7 – Upper Darby, PA – Tower Theater