Sting at his charismatic best aged 71

Reports of his sexual prowess may have been greatly exaggerated but at 71 Sting can still rock a (rather threadbare) muscle shirt. And, for that matter, a beat-up bass guitar.

Sting rocking a muscle top at Sirromet. Picture: Sonia Bettinelli

Reports of his sexual prowess may have been greatly exaggerated – he admits he’s more frantic than tantric – but at 71 Sting can still rock a (rather threadbare) muscle shirt.

And, for that matter, a beat-up bass guitar.

The artist formerly known as Gordon Sumner, playing A Day on the Green at Sirromet Wines southeast of Brisbane on Sunday, attracted a somewhat older audience than fellow British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran playing across town at Suncorp Stadium.

This was the My Songs tour, charting Sting’s back catalogue from his early career out front of post-punk trio The Police to his nearly four-decade solo career.

Sting in concert.

Pictures: Sonia Bettinelli

He was glad to reach Queensland with the “sun shining, no rain”.

“We played in Hunter Valley last night and we got the mother and father of all storms and they chased us off the stage, so tonight is gonna be perfect,” he said.

Sting was supported by a six-piece band, including two backing vocalists.

And he had the crowd on their feet from the get-go with early Police smash Message in a Bottle, followed by early solo hit Englishman in New York.

After warming the crowd up with the favourites, he said: “I’ve got some bad news: I’m gonna sing some new songs.

“You never know, it might be a hit one day!” And despite their unfamiliarity, they went down pretty well.

The charismatic crooner was relaxed and chatty as he related the backstory for many of his hits.

These included Fields of Gold, inspired by the barley crops growing near his castle in the English countryside not far from Stonehenge.

“If you’re ever in the area just knock on the door, we’ll make you a cup of tea,” he joked.

“Or (wife) Trudi will – I’ll be on tour.”

Other solo numbers proved popular, including If I Ever Lose My Faith in You, Brand New Day and Shape of My Heart.

He whipped up plenty of audience participation, including the obligatory “yo yo yo” for Walking on the Moon.

Like Phil Collins and Neil Finn, Sting has brought his musician son on tour: Joe Sumner opened proceedings, followed by Australia’s own son of a beach James Reyne.

Sting’s son Joe Sumner joined him at Sirromet. Picture: Sonia Bettinelli

And Sumner Jr joined his dad on stage toward the end of the show for guest vocals on King of Pain.

Sting closed the main set by showing José Feliciano how Every Breath You Take was done.

They then turned on the red stage lighting for a two-speed version of encore Roxanne.

And while ’80s Cold War number Russians might have been more apt, Sting dedicated poignant closing number Fragile to Ukraine, Russian anti-war protesters and the women of Iran.

Setlist: Message in a Bottle, Englishman in New York, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, If It’s Love, Loving You, Rushing Water, If I Ever Lose My Faith in You, Fields of Gold, Brand New Day, Heavy Cloud No Rain, Shape of My Heart, Seven Days, What Could Have Been, Wrapped Around Your Finger, Walking on the Moon, So Lonely, Desert Rose, King of Pain, Every Breath You Take. Encore: Roxanne, Fragile.

Originally published as Sting at his charismatic best aged 71