Entertainment

Sting is still at it, bringing solo and Police hits to Raleigh. Here are photos.

Sting brings his 3.0 tour to Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater, Tuesday night, May 19, 2026.
Sting brings his 3.0 tour to Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater, Tuesday night, May 19, 2026.

At 74 years old, and after a storied career with both The Police and as a solo and collaborative artist, Sting has little if anything left to prove.

His minimalist show with his band Tuesday night at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater featured none of the distractions of the overproduced spectacles of many bands. Gone was the energetic dancing by crowds of young fans reveling in the new wave sounds of The Police. Let’s be honest, most of the crowd is closer to retirement age than the minimum drinking age

It was just Sting and two other musicians taking the audience on a beautiful, albeit calmer, tour of his catalog of pop songs and many hits.

Here are photos from Tuesday’s show.

Sting acknowledges the crowd as he takes the stage for his Sting 3.0 tour stop at Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater.
Sting acknowledges the crowd as he takes the stage for his Sting 3.0 tour stop at Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Sting salutes the crowd in Raleigh as he takes the stage.
Sting salutes the crowd in Raleigh as he takes the stage. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Sting brings his 3.0 tour to Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater, Tuesday night, May 19, 2026.
Sting brings his 3.0 tour to Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater, Tuesday night, May 19, 2026.
Sting encourages the crowd to sing along to “Message in a Bottle” as he opens the show in Raleigh.
Sting encourages the crowd to sing along to “Message in a Bottle” as he opens the show in Raleigh. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Sting plays high on the neck of his well-worn bass guitar in Raleigh.
Sting plays high on the neck of his well-worn bass guitar in Raleigh. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Flashing his smile at the Gen-X heavy crowd, Sting opens the show with “Message in a Bottle” from his days with The Police.
Flashing his smile at the Gen-X heavy crowd, Sting opens the show with “Message in a Bottle” from his days with The Police. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Sting still hits and holds the high notes during his 3.0 tour show in Raleigh.
Sting still hits and holds the high notes during his 3.0 tour show in Raleigh. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Sting brings his 3.0 tour to Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater, Tuesday night, May 19, 2026.
Sting brings his 3.0 tour to Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater, Tuesday night, May 19, 2026.
Sting seemingly pulls the words to “Message in a Bottle” from the crowd as they sing along.
Sting seemingly pulls the words to “Message in a Bottle” from the crowd as they sing along. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Sting brings his 3.0 tour to Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater, Tuesday night, May 19, 2026.
Sting brings his 3.0 tour to Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater, Tuesday night, May 19, 2026. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas accompany Sting on “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)” in Raleigh.
Guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas accompany Sting on “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)” in Raleigh. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com

Setlist Sting 3.0 concert in Raleigh, NC, May 19, 2026

1. “Message in a Bottle”

2. “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)”

3. “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You”

4. “Englishman in New York”

5. “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”

6. “Fields of Gold”

7. “Never Coming Home”

8. “Mad About You”

9. “Wrapped Around Your Finger”

10. “You Still Touch Me”

11. “Driven to Tears”

12. “When We Dance”

13. “Can’t Stand Losing You”

14. “Shape of My Heart”

15. “Walking on the Moon”

16. “So Lonely”

17. “Desert Rose”

18. “King of Pain”

19. “Every Breath You Take”

Encore:

20. “Roxanne”

21. “Fragile”

This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 10:11 PM with the headline "Sting is still at it, bringing solo and Police hits to Raleigh. Here are photos.."

Related Stories from Durham Herald Sun
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER