Vienna, VA – It was indeed a glorious feeling at the Filene Center in Vienna, VA. Sure, the day long rain kept some of the fans away, but for the most part, the lawn was packed and the covered area was completely filled as fans gathered to capture the last of three sold out Sting performances. We may have been STINGing in the rain, and yes, it was indeed a glorious feeling on a glorious night.
I last captured Sting at Wolf Trap in 2023. This show was quite a bit different and just as awesome! The first difference I noticed was the stage. In 2023 the stage was full of support. Dancers, vocalists, and other musicians. For Sting 3.0, it was just Sting, Dominic Miller (guitar), and Chris Maas (drums). This was going to be a much more intimate delivery of Sting hits, a lot less fanfare, and a lot more Sting.
The night started with “Message in Bottle“. He went into “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)” with a couple words, “Oh My I Love It!”. With the next song, “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You” he assured the sold out crowd that he would never lose faith.
The fourth song of the set, “Englishman in New York” happens to be a favorite of some friends in South Korea (a far reaching song).
He did say that this was his third night singing in the wet and cold… he felt right at home. It was a lot like his home… well, actually, as he put it, his castle. Let’s talk about the “Fields of Gold“.
The subject of next song I think happens way too often… or perhaps not often enough in a stormy relationship. “Never Coming Home” is the tale of a woman, leaving a note saying such to her husband for a very good reason. What was great about this more intimate performance was that we did get to see, hear, and even feel the deeper meaning of many of the songs that have touched us over the years.
This was indeed a lesson, even a lesson in religion, as he spoke of Samuel and Bathsheba, being married to one and being mad about someone else. That was the perfect lead in to “Mad About You” followed by a Police favorite, “Wrapped Around Your Finger“.
One thing that was obvious with the smaller support presence on stage was the greater intimacy Sting had with the audience. It almost felt as though he bonded with the audience and the audience bonded with him. Maybe even some of the audience members were “Driven to Tears“. Given that “When We Dance” tells a tale of one who loves one who belongs to someone else, tears were fitting. The audience roared as he held the last note for an eternity.
“Fortress Around Your Heart” was an audience selection for the night. Again, he seemed to be having a conversation in music more so that a performance on stage. He even posed for a pic for a fan before “Walking on the Moon‘!
As the night wound down, he concluded the last part of the set with “King of Pain” followed by “Every Breath You Take“. Of course, this was not really the end.
As the three returned to the stage for the encore, Sting said something like, “I know what song you all really want to hear”, after which he paid tribute to none other than, “Roxanne“. What made this special was how the Sting staple, on this night, became a Reggae-esque sing along, let by the master himself!!
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Unlike a lot of performances where the band ends on an almost rowdy note, Sting brought us into an intimate, even quieter moment to finish the night with “Fragile“.
And with one last acoustic note, it was over. Yes, the rain had subsided, but a mist was still in the air. It was indeed a glorious evening as we all gathered at Wolf Trap, together, Stinging in the Rain.
Sting Setlist
Message in a Bottle
I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)
If I Ever Lose My Faith in You
Englishman in New York
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Fields of Gold
Never Coming Home
Mad About You
Wrapped Around Your Finger
You Still Touch Me
Driven to Tears
When We Dance
Fortress Around Your Heart
Can’t Stand Losing You / Reggatta de Blanc
Shape of My Heart
Walking on the Moon
So Lonely
Desert Rose
King of Pain
Every Breath You Take
Encore:
Roxanne
Fragile
Show Dates: May 21-23, 2026
