By Kevin Rademeyer.
On a warm March evening, Pretoria’s SunBet Arena became the epicentre of rock ‘n’ roll excellence as Sting strode onto the stage with the effortless charisma of a seasoned maestro. At 73, the legendary musician—flanked by long-time guitarist Dominic Miller and powerhouse drummer Chris Maas—delivered a performance that was both a celebration of his storied past and a bold reimagining of his musical future.
Sting 3.0, the power trio tour that has been captivating audiences worldwide since May 2024, had finally arrived in South Africa, and what transpired was nothing short of a masterclass in musicianship, storytelling, and raw, undiluted energy.
Sting is no stranger to the trio dynamic—his tenure with The Police redefined what three musicians could achieve together. But this tour is not about nostalgia; it is a reinvention. Stripping his sound down to its core, Sting 3.0 breathes new life into classics and highlights the sheer power of three virtuoso musicians working in perfect synchrony. Miller, Sting’s trusted collaborator of 35 years, painted intricate sonic textures with his guitar, while Maas, known for his work with Mumford & Sons, anchored the set with precision and intensity. The result? A sound that was lean yet powerful, polished yet brimming with an untamed energy that filled the arena.
Opening with the iconic Message in a Bottle, Sting immediately transported the audience into his musical universe. The pulsing bassline reverberated through the venue, setting the stage for an immersive journey through his expansive catalogue. With a headset microphone allowing him the freedom to roam, he led the crowd in call-and-response moments that turned the show into an intimate yet electrifying communion.
From the effervescent pop of Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic to the hypnotic rhythms of Walking on the Moon, the setlist showcased the remarkable depth of his discography. This was not merely a parade of greatest hits—Sting 3.0 thrives on reinvention. So Lonely evolved into a sprawling jam session before snapping back into its frenetic conclusion, while Shape of My Heart was delivered with delicate, heart-wrenching beauty.
Beyond the music, Sting remains a consummate storyteller. Between songs, he shared anecdotes that offered glimpses into the origins of his greatest works. Mad About You, he explained, was inspired by a biblical verse about David and Bathsheba, while Fields of Gold was introduced with a wry remark about his “little house in the English countryside—well, it’s more of a castle, really.” Each story deepened the audience’s connection to the music, transforming familiar tunes into deeply personal narratives.
Songs like Englishman in New York swung with elegance, If I Ever Lose My Faith in You carried a subtle political edge, and Desert Rose exploded into a whirlwind of Middle Eastern-inspired guitar work. And then there was Roxanne—a performance so captivating that it ignited a arena-wide singalong, reaffirming its place as one of rock’s most enduring anthems.
While Sting was the magnetic force at the centre, his bandmates shone in their own right. Miller’s guitar work was nothing short of spellbinding, from soaring solos in Driven to Tears to his intricate reimagining of Desert Rose. Maas, meanwhile, was a rhythmic powerhouse, driving each song with a dynamic intensity that made the trio sound far larger than their numbers suggested. At the heart of it all was Sting—his basslines fluid and commanding, his voice remarkably intact, still possessing the clarity and resonance that made him a star decades ago.
The audience, a diverse mix of longtime fans and new admirers, was swept up in the magic of the night. “I’ve saw Sting two years ago when he was in South Africa, but this felt personal—like he was singing just for us,” said Thandi Mokoena, 34, after the show. Pieter van der Merwe, 52, echoed the sentiment: “It’s like The Police and Sting’s solo soul had a baby, and it rocked Pretoria senseless.”
The deep cuts thrilled die-hard fans, with Never Coming Home from 2003’s Sacred Love delivering a powerful, jam-heavy finale. The encore, a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Fragile, saw Sting trade his bass for an acoustic guitar, leaving the audience in contemplative silence as the final notes lingered in the air.
As Sting, Miller, and Maas prepare for more South African and North American dates, the Pretoria performance stands as a testament to the enduring brilliance of an artist who refuses to be confined by the past. Sting 3.0 is not a farewell tour—it is a rebirth, a thrilling reminder that true artistry knows no age. At 73, Sting is not merely keeping up; he is leading the charge, proving that reinvention is the key to longevity.
For those who missed this masterful showcase, limited tickets remain for Sting’s upcoming performances in Cape Town on 25 and 26 March 2025. Brought to South Africa by Big Concerts, this is a show that no music lover should miss—a sonic experience that is both a celebration and an evolution of one of rock’s most extraordinary careers.