Sting had his fans buzzing at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre last night as he kicked off the UK leg of his world tour to promote his latest album 'The Soul Cages'.
The ex-Police frontman, who turned 40 last month, opened his impressive set with the hit single 'All This Time'.
Dressed in yellow waistcoat and black jeans the combination that earned him his nickname back in Newcastle - Sting opened up a honeypot of hits.
But it was the Police classic 'Roxanne', given a new reggae groove, that really got the crowd going.
The Geordie-born musician, ran off tracks from his four solo albums and merged newer tracks smoothly with back-catalogue Police numbers.
Image-conscious Sting's only pause was for a sip of water and some roll-on deodorant environmentally friendly, of course.
Sting's performance was his testimony to the strength and depth of his material which was complimented by a hi-tech light show.
Earlier, the crowd was left wanting more after an excellent support performance by Scots band the Kevin McDermott Orchestra.
Sting reeled off tracks from his debut solo album, the 'Dream of The Blue Turtles', 'Nothing Like The Sun', and his live album 'Bring On the Night'.
He finished his main set with a rousing version of 'Every Breath You Take', which got the 3,500 crowd on their feet.
Sting left his North-east audience on a high note with an unusual version of 'Message In A Bottle' and 'Fragile'.
Last night's concert had an added bonus for Aberdeen University student Eugene Lim.
The 21-year-old medicine student, who comes from Singapore, had two CDs signed by Sting.
Eugene said: “It's the first time I've seen him. It was a brilliant concert."
(c) Aberdeen Press & Journal by Steve Smith
Sting sets fans alight...
It took a generous helping of Sting's musical genius to stir a chilly Exhibition Centre audience to life.
But when he did he and his three-piece band set the place alight with some of the best live sounds you are every likely to hear.
In a tour which promotes his album 'Soul Cages', the real grown-up jazz of his recent years comes across solid and professional.
David Sancious was inspirational on keyboards and impressive with his versality as he picked up a guitar to join a riproaring version of Hendrix's 'Purple Haze'.
A glimpse of the Sting we used to know he of Police fame with 'Roxanne', 'Walking on the Moon' and 'Every Breath You Take' had the whole place on its feet.
An Aberdeen dad was top of the pops with his daughter for John Annand gave his daughter a night out she'll remember for the rest of her life.
John, Grampian Place, Torry, was the winner of the Evening Express Sting competition and the only reason he entered was because daughter Janice (23) is one of Sting's biggest fans.
After being collected by chauffeur driven Mercedes, courtesy of Valentine Chauffeur Drive, Janice and her chum from work, Nicola Gray, were whisked across town to the Mill of Mondurno for a superb meal, before being driven to the concert where they enjoyed drinks in the VIP lounge before seeing their idol.
(c) Aberdeen Evening Express by Alison Riddell
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