Sting warmed up the Östersund audience...

Sting knocked the Östersund audience out in an elegant and gentle way. A packed Stortorg enjoyed itself to the fullest.

With the soft and gentle Lose my faith in you, Sting begins his one and a half hour long concert at Storsjöyran. It may seem a bit tentative, but in the third song Englishman in New York, the whole square lifts and everything becomes so wonderfully beautiful and wonderful as it can only be when everyone agrees that it will be a good time.

Sting offers a well-mixed mix of his own gigantic hits, old Police hits and lesser-known album tracks. When the polite Englishman has greeted the audience, he states that "It's lucky I came in the summer". 

The stage radiates warmth so the audience doesn't freeze. Right from the start I understand that one of the world's absolute giants in live mixing is at the mixing desk, Howard Page should get an award for creating a totally perfect soundscape. It's powerful and stable without hurting your ears, everything sounds perfect. The mixing is made easier by Sting having some absolutely amazing musicians with him. Dominic Miller guitar, David Sancious piano, Peter Tickel violin, Jo Lawry choir and the somewhat legendary drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. Everything fits like a glove, it's tight and precise but still playful and improvised. I fully enjoy everyone's solo efforts but the violinist makes me completely captivated. Lovely with such a liberated and wild guy on the violin. During Fields of gold I discover that I have goosebumps, not from the cold evening, it's wonderfully beautiful.

After the smash hit Roxanne, the band leaves the stage. The rapt audience applauds Sting for another four songs. The biggest roar comes when Every Breath You Take starts. It feels almost surreal that the idol of my youth is standing in the square in Östersund.

(c) LTZ