STING & SHAGGY // O2 ACADEMY, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Sting returns to home turf with the renowned Shaggy for a spectacular show!
STING & SHAGGY PERFORMING AT NEWCASTLE’S O2 ACADEMY - 22.05.19
PICTURE BY: WILL GORMAN PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★★
Sting and Shaggy together, who would of see this coming? I don’t think anyone would but this combination was just brilliant! Sting is one of the UK’s best musicians whose discovery is amazing, from his work in The Police, to then his solo career to now his most recent album 44/876 with Shaggy.
To be able to see Sting in action at the O2 Academy was something spectacular; the academy is relatively small compared to the arenas he normally performs at so this intimacy was astonishing
With the venue rapidly filling, the houselights finally dimmed, the crowd cheered, Sting and Shaggy entered the stage accompanied with their band. They wasted no time beginning with 44/876 and Morning Is Coming off their new collaboration, which was well-received by the audience.
The duo then continued with the throwbacks with Englishman in New York a Sting cover and Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic a cover by The Police which caused most the people on the balcony to stand up and dance. We were then given a throwback by Shaggy with a rendition of Oh Carolina and then some more tracks off 44/876.
Sting was phenomenal, his voice was incredible and he completely blew away the crowd.
A little later in the set saw You by Shaggy with the talented singer Alexander Stewart on backing vocals. This added to what was already a spectacular night.
The way Sting and Shaggy complimented each other was cracking, the energy you saw was something new artists struggle with. Shaggy’s stage presence was great even when not doing anything vocally he was still engaging with the audience adding to what was already an incredible atmosphere.
The fun continued until the duo and their band briefly left the stage to the audience dismay of the audience with cheers and applauses continuing till, they returned; this was easily one of the fastest encores I’ve ever seen. With their return they began playing Can’t Stand Losing You then Desert Rose. Next saw one of Shaggy’s most well-known tracks It Wasn’t Me which has to be a highlight for me. Their second last track saw Every Breath You Take which had the audience singing along. The duo and their band then bowed to the stage and finished with Next To You.
The setlist was incredible with a nice mix of original Sting and Shaggy tracks with The Police covers and as well as tracks from the collaboration 44/876. By the end of the night I was lost for words, this was one of the most enjoyable shows I’ve been to in a long time!
