Welcome to today's episode where we're thrilled to have the legendary guitarist and songwriter, Mark Knopfler, join us for a delightful conversation over tea… or in his case, studio coffee. Known as a maestro of his craft and celebrated for his work with Dire Straits among other musical ventures, Mark brings stories from his illustrious career and personal life to you ears. In this episode: Understand how music found its way into young Mark’s life through radio programs like “Listen With Mother” and “Children’s Favourites.” Trace back to when finger-picking style was introduced to him by folk singers in Newcastle upon Tyne. Reflect on songwriting inspirations drawn from blues heroes leading back through generations of influence. Key Takeaways: Musical camaraderie is timeless - sharing tales that intertwine professional legends with personal friendships enriches our understanding of artists beyond their public personas. The nuances behind creating music are captivating; whether it be mastering brewing techniques or refining guitar skills without formal training. Inspiration can come from unexpected sources – childhood experiences listening intently to radio shows laid foundational love for lyrics which later defined Knopfler’s songwriting prowess. Mentorship plays a critical role - meeting people who share your passion can expand your horizons musically as evidenced by encounters between young Knopfler, Chet Atkins, Roger Miller, etc. Patience in creativity is crucial - sometimes songs need time before they’re ready to be shared with the world; they are akin to living entities growing at their own pace before venturing out independently. Enjoy this intimate session filled with nostalgia, laughter, wisdom gained across decades within studios' walls—plus some exclusive insider knowledge straight from one rock 'n roll's most esteemed icons: Mr. Mark Knopfler himself! The music for the podcast is Twiggy's version of "Waterloo Sunset" by the Kinks and can be found on Apple Music at this link https://music.apple.com/gb/album/romantically-yours/693460953 If you’ve enjoyed listening to “Tea With Twiggy” please give take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to this podcast so you auto-magically get the next episodes for free and do tell all your friends and family about it too. If you want to connect with me I’d love to hear from you. You can find me on Twitter @Twiggy Or you can find me on Instagram @TwiggyLawson My thanks go to all the people that have helped this podcast happen: ● Thanks to all the team at Stripped Media including Ben Williams, who edits the show, my producer Kobi Omenaka and Executive Producers Tom Whalley and Dave Corkery If you want to know more about this podcast and others produced by Stripped Media please visit www.Stripped.media or email [email protected] to find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices