Sting

Sting, promoting his latest album 'Sacred Love', paid a belated visit to Birmingham's NEC Arena last night after illness forced him to cancel in May.

The audience, ably warmed up by excellent trumpeter Chris Botti, were smiling from the minute Sting came on, right through to the car park. It may have been a seated concert but after 20 minutes the whole crowd was standing, an effect provoked by 'Englishman in New York'. Announcing that it was the last gig in the country on this tour and we better make it a good one, was hardly necessary.

The atmosphere was great with new songs 'Never Coming Home', 'Inside' and 'Sacred Love' getting an enthusiastic response. 'Brand New Day' and 'Send Your Love' fitted in effortlessly with the classic 'Fields of Gold' and we were also treated to a couple of songs from Sting's days with The Police; 'Roxanne' and 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic'. The rest of the band were brilliant with Brummie singer Joy Rose getting a big cheer during the introductions. The inevitable encore closed the show with 'Lose My Faith In You', 'Every Breath You Take' and 'A Thousand Years'.

With a back-catalogue that spans over three decades, and fans from 9 to 90 years old, the set list still managed to please everyone. After an evening of pure class Sting and his band proved that they were well worth the high ticket price, and the six month wait.

FUTURE GIGS