Sting 3.0

Sting at Francofolies de Spa: the eternal "Englishman" has nothing left to prove...

For the very first time in his career, the former frontman of The Police performed on a Walloon stage on Saturday, closing out the second night of the Francofolies de Spa festival. At 74, Sting has lost none of his vocal prowess or stage presence, as he demonstrated before a packed Place Royale during his "Sting 3.0" world tour.

It is hard not to be struck by the scope of Sting’s career, spanning 45 years of music - from the edgy punk-rock of The Police to the more subdued songwriting of his solo years. To say the crowd at Place Royale was eagerly awaiting him on Saturday night would be an understatement; Sting had been the talk of the town all day long. At exactly 10:30 PM - with no dramatic entrance or flashy staging - he finally appeared. Daylight was still fading as the opening notes of "Message in a Bottle" rang out. The connection was instant: the crowd was singing along in unison, and smiles broke out within the very first seconds.

There were only three musicians on stage: Sting on bass and vocals, Dominic Miller on guitar, and Chris Maas on drums. It was an intimate, stripped-back setup that allowed his instantly recognisable voice to shine without diminishing the power of the repertoire. The concert played on the two facets of his career: his solo tracks leaned towards a gentler sound - exemplified by an almost ethereal "Fields of Gold" - while The Police classics tapped into a rawer energy. "Can’t Stand Losing You" was a prime example of this; Dominic Miller’s guitar work became sharper, Chris Maas picked up the pace, and the crowd was swept up in the moment.

Naturally, one of the evening’s most intimate moments came with the performance of "Shape of My Heart." The guitar softens, and the Place Royale joins in on the chorus (despite conversations drifting from the neighbouring hotel terrace, which annoy a few audience members). Sting remains unruffled, continuing the song, buoyed by a crowd that never ceases to show its enthusiasm - a fervour the singer reciprocates throughout the concert. He addresses the audience in French several times, calling out "Vive les Francofolies!", "Vive la Belgique!", and "Vive la Wallonie!" in turn, each time greeted by an ovation. The audience appreciates both the songs themselves and the emotion with which he continues to perform them, more than four decades after his initial hits. Smiles, glances at the crowd, and a few exchanged words create a sense of intimacy that never wavers throughout the evening.

The "Sting 3.0" tour, launched two years ago, seems to have found the perfect formula for bringing a decades-old repertoire to life without merely going through the motions. Sting obviously knows these songs inside out, yet nothing feels mechanical. He continues to inhabit them with effortless ease, supported by a trio that shifts seamlessly between tenderness and high energy.

The final part of the concert confirms this impression. Hit follows hit without a lull, culminating in "Every Breath You Take," sung in unison by the entire Place Royale. After a brief moment backstage, Sting returns to thunderous applause for "Roxanne" - an eagerly awaited encore performed with equal fervour. Finally, the understated "Fragile" brings the evening to a close. The guitar softens, the vocals take centre stage, and the crowd hangs on the British artist's notes one last time.

Nearly an hour and a half has passed, and Sting hasn't needed to overdo it. No spectacular staging or unnecessary theatrics - just three musicians and more than four decades of songs. At 74, Sting has little left to prove. In Spa, he demonstrated above all that he still has a great deal to give.

(c) Le Soir by Sascha Backes

 Sting, an "Englishman" at the Francofolies de Spa, thoroughly won over the crowd: "It's my first time in Wallonia"...

Rock legend Sting performed at the Francofolies de Spa this Saturday, July 25, 2026. During the concert, the artist rattled off his hit songs alongside numerous tracks from The Police, playing to a crowd that unanimously enjoyed the experience.

The Francofolies de Spa pulsed to the rhythm of a true music legend this Saturday evening. As part of his "Sting 3.0" tour, the former frontman of The Police proved that the raw, unadorned "power trio" format still suits him perfectly. As for the audience, the highly sought-after "Royal" zone had been sold out for weeks - and with good reason: the British artist was performing for a crowd that had clearly come to hear all his hits. The Spa audience was not disappointed, as we could hear firsthand. Comments like "It's a magnificent concert," "I love it," and "So many hits" were frequently heard throughout the show.

The tone was set from the very first notes. Sting immediately cast his "Message in a Bottle" out to the crowd, and the Spa audience caught it, singing the famous chorus in unison. Without missing a beat, he launched into "I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)," reminding everyone that he has lost none of his rock prowess. In the heart of this spa town, the cool, understated elegance of the "Englishman in New York" hit the mark, delivering that signature jazzy groove.

As for those who questioned the choice of an English-speaking star for the Francofolies, the artist responded in the best possible way by attempting to speak French as much as he could. "This is my first time in Wallonia!" exclaimed the artist from the stage, frequently checking in with the Spa audience to ensure everyone was having a good time.

After "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," the tempo slowed with the ballad "Fields of Gold," offering a gentle interlude beneath the pleasant Saturday evening sky. Sting then ramped up the energy with "Driven to Tears," impeccably performed by his band.

Any fears of boredom that Saturday night were quickly dispelled by a fresh string of hits, kicking off with "Can't Stand Losing You." The crowd embraced the melancholic tones of "Shape of My Heart" before moving into the dawn of "Brand New Day" and then "So Lonely." As the show entered its final stretch, the Eastern-inspired sounds of "Desert Rose" transported the festival-goers, before the iconic "Every Breath You Take" underscored just how deeply Sting’s repertoire has shaped the musical history of the last forty years.

The encore drove the point home with the inevitable "Roxanne," belted out at the top of their lungs by tireless fans gathered both inside the venue and in the streets of Spa bordering the Pierre Rapsat stage. Finally, the concert concluded with "Fragile" - a gentle closing note confirming that Sting was undoubtedly the driving force behind the 2026 Francofolies de Spa, setting a standard that would be well worth emulating in the future.

(c) L'Avenir by Romain Rixhon