Sting 3.0

Sting defies the passage of time to conquer the Gran Canaria Arena...

The British star delivers a fantastic concert in Siete Palmas alongside Dominic Miller and Chris Maas.

Sting is Dorian Gray. The passage of time seems not to affect him, as if - God knows when - he drank the elixir of eternal youth. He demonstrated this during the concert he headlined this Thursday as part of the 'Sting 3.0' tour at the Gran Canaria Arena.

Sting returned to the island - following his June 2023 show at the Plaza de la Música and his July 2011 performance at the Gran Canaria Stadium with the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra - as part of the tour he is undertaking with guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas. He shares a magical connection with them, and together they treated the audience to a run-through of many of his greatest hits, featuring specially crafted arrangements that sounded magnificent.

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner - known as Sting to the rest of us and to music history - didn't waste time on small talk, as is his custom in live shows; instead, he came to give the audience the songs they were longing for, spanning both his solo career and his time with The Police. There were just a few words between songs, a couple of "Gran Canaria!" shouts delivered with an English accent, and little else. The music and his voice said it all; he had no need for flourishes or pyrotechnics.

At 74, the British star is in splendid shape - physically, with not an ounce of fat, a flat torso, and muscular, lean arms; and vocally, as he demonstrated at the Gran Canaria Arena, where the audience was captivated from start to finish.

The singer arrived to headline a top-tier musical celebration, and the crowd rose to the occasion from the very first chords to the last. He opened the evening with a classic from his time with The Police, "Message in a Bottle," delivering a performance that was a veritable torrent of emotion. He reached new heights with the next two tracks - "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" and, above all, when he tackled another of his signature songs, "Englishman in New York." That song features an iconic, enveloping melody recognized instantly by any music lover of a certain age or with good taste; the entire Gran Canaria Arena sang the chorus in unison while the Big Apple skyline was projected on one of the three screens.

From that moment on - with the "sting" (the English word that gave rise to his youthful stage name) now firmly planted in the audience's hearts - the band delivered superb versions of popular hits like "Shape of My Heart," "Fields of Gold," "Mad About You," and "Never Comin' Home." They culminated the set with an unbeatable quartet of songs - "Brand New Day," "So Lonely," "Desert Rose," and "Every Breath You Take" - that evoked memories of the ice-cold Schweppes advertised on TV in the eighties, a treat we savoured whenever we could, especially in summer.

"Roxanne" and "Fragile" were the chosen encores. These two fantastic tracks ensured everyone left the Siete Palmas arena smiling, ready to dream of a lean, blond "little angel" who speaks English and continues to create unforgettable nights whenever he teams up with a top-tier guitarist and drummer.

This Friday, at the Anexo Palmetum in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Sting continues a tour that will also visit Chiclana (the 12th), Fuengirola (the 13th), Granada (the 15th), and Seville (the 18th) this July, before moving on to venues in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania, prior to crossing over to the Americas.

(c) Canarias by Victoriano Suárez Álamo

Sting spans half a century of his greatest anthems - from his time with The Police and his solo career - at the Gran Canaria Arena...

The renowned British singer returns to the Gran Canaria capital for the third time in 15 years to revisit hits from his days with The Police and his solo career.

Rarely does Gran Canaria offer the chance to sing along to living music history, weaving together nearly fifty years of anthems. Unless, of course, your name is Sting - and the "sting" in your name continues to stir the musical memories of so many generations: from the New Wave crest The Police rode to establish their legend in 1977, to a meteoric solo career that has only expanded that legacy over four decades, etching his name "upon our hearts," as his latest song goes.

Last night, the celebrated British musician took the audience at the Gran Canaria Arena in Siete Palmas on a journey of nostalgia, elegance, and connection. The "Englishman" returned to his roots in a trio format - reminiscent of his days fronting the iconic band The Police - flanked by virtuoso guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas (Mumford & Sons, Maggie Rogers). They provided the perfect backdrop for the singer-bassist to showcase his unmistakable voice in peak form, effortlessly hitting the high notes on signature songs like "Fields of Gold," "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You," and "Roxanne."

Part of the "Sting 3.0 Tour" - which kicked off its Spanish leg last night at the Siete Palmas venue and continues today at the Anexo Palmetum in Santa Cruz de Tenerife - the setlist covers every major classic from the Wallsend native's career. His most loyal fans answered the call, as if echoing the hit whose chorus promises: "every game you play / every night you stay / I’ll be watching you." Few would fail to notice that the frequency of Sting’s visits to the island is a rarity for an artist of his international stature and renown; indeed, this marks his third performance in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in just 15 years. He first performed at the Gran Canaria Stadium in 2011 as part of his Symphonicity tour, where - backed by the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra (OFGC) under the direction of Pedro Halffter - he performed key tracks from his album Symphonicities (Deutsche Grammophon) in a symphonic format before an audience of over 12,000. Years later, in 2023, he returned to the city for the third stop of his My Songs tour at the Plaza de la Música; accompanied by a septet, he performed a setlist of his greatest hits before a crowd of 8,000.

In this third round - performed before an audience of 7,000, according to organizers - Sting presented the truest version of himself, fitting for a global star who never shied away from risk, experimentation, or musical expansion. At 74, he continues to exude the same energy, personality, and charisma as the young debutant from The Police who was determined to swim against the punk tide in the London scene of the 1970s.

This musical journey through time and Sting’s vocal legacy took off around 9:00 PM last night, following an opening set by the local group Girlband! The British musician kicked things off in high gear by launching a fan favourite - "Message in a Bottle," from The Police’s second album Reggatta de Blanc (1979) - into the crowd; it was a sure-fire hit and a statement of intent, with Sting giving the audience space to take ownership of the choruses. A string of equally well-known tracks from various stages of his career followed in quick succession - including "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You," "Englishman in New York," and "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" - setting the tone for the Sting 3.0 Tour: a mix of songs from The Police’s catalogue and the most iconic tracks from his extensive solo discography.

As is typical, the nearly two-hour live show alternated between quieter segments featuring lesser-known or more understated songs - such as "Never Coming Home" and "Mad About You," from his fifth and third solo albums, respectively - and high-energy peaks of total audience engagement. These climactic moments were largely driven by legendary Police tracks like "Wrapped Around Your Finger," "Can't Stand Losing You," and "So Lonely" (the latter performed toward the end of the concert). The crowning moment came with the iconic track "Every Breath You Take" - The Police’s most acclaimed power ballad, which earned Sting the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1984 (it is worth noting that he now boasts a total of 17 awards and over 100 million albums sold worldwide) - a song the audience sang at the top of their lungs as the night drew to a close.

Naturally, there were encores; from the very first chords, the entire venue recognized the opening cry of "Roxanne" - that historic fusion of reggae, rock, and new wave about a prostitute's love that propelled the London band and its frontman to stardom. To wrap up a night to remember, Sting chose "Fragile," one of his best-known solo tracks, which recently featured in the Netflix series Adolescencia. "On and on the rain will say / How fragile we are, how fragile we are." It was a melodic ode to the fragility of our existence - even though, for those two hours leading up to midnight, life felt more like immortality.
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(c) La Provincia by Nora Navarro

British precision can also sound like rock...

While other acts drag their concerts out to the point of exhaustion, Sting has turned punctuality into yet another virtue of his live shows. Exactly ninety minutes, from start to finish. Three musicians, a guitar that has seen more miles than many bands, and a setlist that holds its own without screens, pyrotechnics, or speeches. Good rock music doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles.

Some artists feel the need to kill the lights to make it seem like something momentous is about to happen, but Sting did the exact opposite last Thursday, July 9, at the Gran Canaria Arena. While much of the audience was still settling in - sipping their mixed drinks and glancing casually at the stage - the Briton simply walked out, completely at ease. There was no formal introduction, no explosive lighting effects, and no entrance designed specifically to elicit applause.

Zero fanfare. He almost looked like a shy kid sneaking into a candy store behind his parents' backs. By the time many in the crowd realized what was happening, he was already strapped into his trusty guitar, ready to begin. And begin he did - right on schedule at 9:00 PM, with surgical precision.

If one thing became clear during his stop in Gran Canaria for the *Sting 3.0* tour, it’s that the clock rules just as much as the setlist. The concert kicked off with almost brazen punctuality and wrapped up exactly ninety minutes later, encores included. Not a minute more, not a minute less. Sting’s clock has no time for endless encores; Tenerife awaited the next day, and there seemed to be no room for improvisation.

That absolute control stands in contrast to the musical philosophy of the format itself. Sting has stripped his act down to its bare essentials: a trio featuring guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas, where every single note counts. There were two giant screens flanking the stage, but no fireworks and no massive production trying to justify the ticket price - or the cost of very modest beers at 5 euros. Just three musicians - yet a finely tuned machine - turning every song into an exercise in precision and muscle. Organic. Very organic. The way good bands should sound when they have nothing to hide.

And speaking of muscle…! Sting seems intent on reminding the world that, at 74, he can still show off his arms. His signature sleeveless tees reveal biceps sculpted with almost military discipline. His skin, however, still succumbs to gravity - a battle neither the gym nor yoga seems able to win.

In any case, he retains the exact same mischievous look he had four decades ago when he was first making his mark with The Police. That half-restrained smile; the expression of someone who knows full well he has nothing to prove to anyone. That curious blend of shyness, confidence, and seasoned craftsmanship.

Nor does he need to say much. His interaction with the audience was limited to little more than a brief, solitary "Good evening, Gran Canaria" after the third song - "Englishman" - which shifted the atmosphere and turned the show into a more vibrant affair. After that, silence. He let the songs do the talking. And talk they did.

His main guitar also had its say. For anyone expecting a parade of vintage instruments swapped out from song to song, they had chosen the wrong artist. Throughout virtually the entire night, Sting powered through the setlist with a guitar that looked like it had lived several lifetimes - bearing scratches, wear, and the mileage of the road. It was a scarred instrument, the kind that tells stories without needing to show them off on Instagram. It wasn't until 10:36 PM that he made his only instrument change, switching to a black Spanish guitar to perform "Fragile" - the instrument with which he bade the stage farewell until the next time.

The setlist also refused to simply churn out hits exactly as they had always sounded. "Roxanne" was saved for the encore, appearing with arrangements that further accentuated its reggae DNA - a reminder that, long before becoming a global anthem, the song already had that rhythm coursing through its veins.

The finale arrived with two indisputable classics: "So Lonely," transformed once again into that collective shout that never loses its power; and "Every Breath You Take," greeted as the inevitable farewell everyone knew was coming from the moment the concert began.

No grand speeches. No forced nostalgia. No fireworks. Just ninety minutes of songs performed by a musician who understands that time - much like the stage - doesn't need to be cluttered with absurd ornaments and props when the songbook is solid enough to carry the whole show.

In short, at 74, Sting no longer plays concerts to impress. He does the exact opposite: he strips away the superfluous and lets the songs do the work. He walks onto the stage without fanfare, plays for exactly an hour and a half on a guitar battered by miles and possessing more life than many bands, and leaves without wasting a minute. The music does the rest.

Some concerts impress through sheer spectacle. Sting prefers to impress through subtraction. He clears away everything non-essential until only the music remains. And it turns out that, after all these years, that formula is still more than enough.

(c) Metalcry by Tony Ventura