Live at The 1865, Southampton | 15 October 2026
There are tribute bands, and then there are bands that take you so close to the original that you could almost believe you’re watching the real thing. Brothers in Band certainly fall into the latter category.
I had the pleasure of attending and photographing Brothers in Band at The 1865 in Southampton, performing their The Very Best of Dire Straits show. What an absolutely superb evening of live music.
From the opening notes of Once Upon a Time, it was clear that we were in for something special. The musicianship throughout the evening was outstanding, capturing the unmistakable sound, atmosphere and musical brilliance of Dire Straits.
The lead guitar work was exceptional, recreating that distinctive Mark Knopfler sound with remarkable accuracy. The tone, phrasing and effortless guitar playing were a real pleasure to hear and photograph. At times, closing your eyes, you could easily have believed you were listening to Dire Straits themselves.
The bass playing was equally impressive, providing that beautifully controlled, melodic foundation that is so essential to the Dire Straits sound. Every member of the band contributed to an incredibly polished performance.
And then there was the saxophone – absolutely superb! One of the highlights of the evening for me was Your Latest Trick. The saxophone playing was simply wonderful, bringing that smooth, soulful sound to life and demonstrating just how much attention this band pays to the musical details.
Concert Review & Photography – Blondell Photographic
The Set List
The evening was divided into two performances, taking the audience on a journey through some of Dire Straits’ finest recordings.
Part One – Approximately 60 minutes
- Once Upon a Time
- Expresso Love
- So Far Away
- Romeo & Juliet
- Private Investigations
- Walk of Life
The first half offered a wonderful mixture of powerful guitar-driven numbers and more delicate, atmospheric songs. Romeo & Juliet was beautifully performed, while Private Investigations demonstrated the band’s ability to capture the dramatic dynamics of the original recordings. Walk of Life brought a lively finish to the first half.
Part Two – Approximately 75 minutes
- Money for Nothing
- Your Latest Trick
- Tunnel of Love
- Twisting by the Pool
- Telegraph Road
- Brothers in Arms
- Sultans of Swing
- Going Home
The second half was packed with classics. Money for Nothing delivered that instantly recognisable guitar sound, while Tunnel of Love and the epic Telegraph Road demonstrated the band’s remarkable musical ability.
Brothers in Arms brought a more emotional atmosphere, before Sultans of Swing provided another opportunity for some outstanding lead guitar work.
The evening concluded with Going Home, bringing a fitting end to a wonderful celebration of Dire Straits’ music.
More Than Just Great Musicians – Something else that really stood out to me was the band members themselves.
As a photographer, I get to meet and photograph a great many musicians, and it’s always a pleasure when the people behind the music are as impressive as their performances.
What a genuinely lovely group of guys. Friendly, approachable and clearly passionate about what they do. It was a real pleasure meeting them and capturing their performance through my camera.
Final Thoughts
Brothers in Band are far more than just another Dire Straits tribute act. They are an exceptionally talented collection of musicians who clearly understand and respect the music they perform.
The lead guitar, bass and saxophone were particular highlights for me, but the quality of the entire band was outstanding.
If you’re a Dire Straits fan, I would thoroughly recommend seeing Brothers in Band live. Their sound is remarkably close to the original, their musicianship is superb, and they deliver an evening of music that does real justice to the legendary band.
An absolutely brilliant night at The 1865, Southampton. I would happily photograph and listen to these guys again.
Review and live photography by Blondell Photographic
www.blondellphotographic.co.uk
Band website: www.brothersinband.net