Sting in Cardiff review: The singer proves he's still a class act as he brings his songs to Cardiff Castle…

The Police frontman Sting is the latest in a long line of big names to perform in Cardiff this summer.

Blondie, Harry Styles, Queens of the Stone Age, Coldplay... there's been a raft of big acts performing in Cardiff this summer and July hasn't really kicked off yet. The lastest to add his name to the list is Sting, who took to the stage at Cardiff Castle on Sunday, July 2.

One of the most famous and enduring names in music, the legendary performer and frontman of '70s and '80s rockers The Police is currently travelling the world with his My Songs tour, which included a residency in Las Vegas. And what's good enough for the bright lights of Vegas is definitely good enough for Wales.

My Songs is essentially a showcase of Sting's - and The Police's - greatest hits and from the moment the Cardiff show opened with the ever catchy Message In A Bottle, they just kept coming. In fact, the first four songs alone were some of his most brilliant tracks - the opener was followed by Englishman In New York, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic and If You Love Somebody Set Them Free.

Sting - aka Gordon Sumner - interacted with his Welsh fans during the set telling them his very good friend had been teaching him some Welsh before he attempted to pronounce 'Caerdydd'. And later, as he performed a mash up of Walking On The Moon and So Lonely (which also included a bit of Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry) and the crowd joined in at the tops of their voices, he shouted: "We're in Wales, you can sing!"

But for Sting it was more about the songs than the banter and his musicianship shone throughout the set while his vocals were just incredible. He may be 71 - yes, really - but his polished performance is as energeic as someone half his age. And he doens't need any gimmicks - the magnificent backdrop of Cardiff Castle and some clever stage lighting were more than enough. He was supported by a superb band and backing singers and he was even joined on stage by son Joe Sumner for King Of Pain.

After around 90 minutes, which whizzed by, Sting rounded off the night with The Police classic Every Breath You Take before the encore which included fan favourite Roxanne. It may be almost five decades since the former school teacher shot to fame as a rock star but Sting is still a class act.

There are plenty more gigs to come at Cardiff Castle, including those from legendary Welsh perfomers The Alarm on Tuesday, July 4 and Sir Tom Jones who has a number of dates which kick off on Friday, July 21.

(c) Wales Online by Karen Price

Sting at Cardiff Castle: unbelievable performance at 70, Police hits galore in MY SONGS tour...

It’s hard to believe the slim and well-honed figure of Sting onstage at Cardiff Castle is now in his seventies, but on the evidence of this Sunday evening open-air show, the erstwhile Police frontman’s voice has retained a strength to match. Still, he’s met with a crowd that knows every word of every song, as the man formally titled Gordon Sumner delivers hit after hit in a show that forms part of Sting’s succinctly named My Songs tour.

Cardiff Castle provides a stunning backdrop as Dagny, a Norwegian Robyn-a-like electropop act, delivers a rather good warm-up set for Sting. Assisted by a crisp sound mix, she works the crowd well with her well-crafted Scandinavian pop.

Sting takes the Castle stage to the sounds of Message In A Bottle, clutching his beloved, career-spanning Fender Precision bass: though worn and beaten-up, it still sounds as good as it did on those classic early Police albums from over 40 years ago. Quentin Crisp biopic Englishman In New York follows to rapturous applause, and thereafter the hits just keep coming.

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Walking On The Moon and Brand New Day are all delivered faultlessly by a crack band with some incredible backing singers and a tour de force harmonica solo, originally performed by Stevie Wonder. The avuncular Sting even manages to mangle some Welsh, redeeming himself when taking time to thank the Deaf signing pair stage left.

There’s a touch of the sheer energy and excitement of the Police on show as So Lonely – this reviewer’s favourite track from the band’s first album, Outlandos D’amour – is performed at breakneck speed and precision, accompanied by a mass singalong from the mostly middle-aged crowd. The classic Every Breath You Take and Roxanne are the final highlights, as the rain holds off and a happy crowd departs, into the night.

(c) Buzzmag by Barry Jackson