Sting Tour
Shortcuts: Frequently Asked Questions | Sting News | Concert Reviews | Tour Archive
Sting 2018 44/876 Tour Co-Headliner: Shaggy | Opening Bands: To Be Determined
Narrow Events by City
Frequently Asked Questions
What songs will Sting play in concert?
If you are looking to see Sting in 2014, expect to be a bit surprised by the curtailed setlist. It features a number of Sting staples from his career, including his breakthrough solo, U2-inspired gem, “Brand New Day,” which opens the majority of shows. The set appropriately features the Police classic “Every Breath You Take” which is always positioned towards the end of the set, as well as “Message in a Bottle.” Sting takes a moment to bring out underappreciated Police track “Driven to Tears” and the theatrical “Roxanne.”
There is one thing that makes a Sting show in 2014 unique; the co-headlining presence of Paul Simon. The folk mastermind joins Sting on stage, and the pair share their vast catalog of music throughout the evening. Fans will hear the pair perform classics like the Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” as well as a slew of Paul Simon solo songs.
There are moments where it is mostly just Sting performing, while Simon takes a step back from the spotlight. But both men are nearly always present together on stage in some capacity. Sting may go on to play three songs on his own, but Simon is there strumming along and adding mild background vocals. Of course, the opposite applies when Simon takes a step forward and has a chance to flex his musical muscle.
Below is a sample setlist from the collaborative tour.
Brand New Day
Boy in the Bubble
Fields of Gold
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
I Hung My Head
Driven to Tears
Walking on the Moon
Mother and Child Reunion
Fragile
America
Message in a Bottle
The Hounds of Winter
They Dance Alone
Roxanne
Desert Rose
The Boxer
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Every Breath You Take
Late in the Evening
When Will I Be Loved?
What to expect out of a Sting show?
A traditional Sting concert incorporates tracks from nearly all of The Police’s five main studio records, as well as material spanning a modest number of his close to twelve solo releases. But 2014 marks an interesting year for the famous frontman. He will share the stage with Paul Simon of art/folk duo, Simon & Garfunkel.
Each musician stands on stage as an equal, swapping out tracks from their respective back catalogs as well as their group’s discography. Because the pair are sharing the stage and performing together, they will do backup vocals for each other’s songs.
There is no Sting set followed by a Paul Simon set, though each individual does do a handful of songs as a main lead. The gentlemen embrace each other’s sound, and fans should expect an intimate camaraderie, a lot of onstage chatter, and new interpretations of their favorite songs.
How do I get access to presale tickets for Sting’s tour?
Presale tickets are not easy to come by. American Express is offering presale tickets for the 2014 Paul Simon and Sting tour dates, but they are not cheap. Individuals need to act fast, specifically 48 hours prior to the public onsale. Individuals will also need an American Express card to make the purchase.
Is this tour the final nail in the coffin for a Police reunion?
Though there are no plans for a Police reunion anytime soon, there are no confirmed reports a Police reunion tour is out of the question. This tour in particular appears to be more of an experiment than a full-fledged direction.
Will this tour lead to any collaborative recording with Paul Simon and Sting?
Other artists have gone on tour together and decided to record together (i.e. Leon Russell and Elton John). There are no remarks that this tour will lead to any studio time with the pair despite the wide respect and quick sellout of these shows. This is not expected to result in any official recording between the two.
Who is Sting’s publicist and press contact?
Sting’s management is handled through Rob Light of the Creative Artists Agency. He can be reached at (424) 288-2000 or via email. Tracy Bufferd of Forge Ahead Media serves as Sting’s publicist. She can be contacted at (212) 777-5110 or via email.
Concert Reviews
“Neither Sting nor Simon’s own private sets outshone the other and each offered a different spin or version of the other’s song. It was truly unique in the sense that what each added to the other’s song only made it that much better from the original. Opening night was a great success and will likely keep getting better and improving as the tour continues.” – Suzanne Cordeiro of the Examiner
“Sting, who held forth at the Bank of America Pavilion for two hours, is a decade younger than Baez but looks remarkably fit. He pranced about the stage with his bass guitar and led his crack five-piece band in renditions of his hits from the 1980s and 1990s. These included the imbecilic “De Do Do Do De Da Da Da,” to the more lyrical, and sweetly poetic, “Fields of Barley,” which, he told the audience, was written after walking through the gilded meadows near his home in northern England.” – Robert Israel of Art Fuse
“In the past, Sting’s entourage on stage ranged from the +2 when he played with The Police to full symphonic orchestras. This time around he brought with him small but superb troupe, which looked little odd on the stage but sounded impeccable.” – Darko Sikman of Vancity Buzz
Tour Archive
Back to Bass (2013)
Tour Opening Acts: N/A
Started June 2, 2013 in San Francisco, California | Ended June 22, in Uncasville, Connecticut
Sting (2010)
Tour Opening Acts: the Roots, Kyteman, Joe Sumner, Chris Botti
Started April 25, 2010 in Washington, DC | Ended July 31, 2010 in Saratoga Springs, New York
Police Worldwide Reunion Tour (2007/2008)
Tour Opening Acts: Maroon 5, Fiction Plane, the Fratellis
Started May 28, 2007 in Vancouver, Canada | Ended August 7, 2008 in New York City, New York
All This Time Tour (2001)
Tour Opening Acts: N/A
Started May 15, 2001 in Peoria, Illinois | Ended December 14, 2001 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Brand New Day Tour (1999/2001)
Tour Opening Acts: Jeff Beck, James Taylor, Cheb Mami
Started April 17, 1999 in New York City, New York | Ended May 26, 2001 in Boston, Massachusetts