Sting is in a reflective mood. The Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter grew up in Wallsend near Newcastle-upon-Tyne and tells me he is "very proud" of his Tyneside roots. But the musician is less complimentary about the way the North East of England has been, as he puts it, "wilfully neglected by successive governments for decades". As he announces a significant donation to an arts institution in Gateshead, he also told the BBC: "The statistics for child poverty in the area are discouraging"...

Sting begins his summer 3.0 European tour today in Hannover and will be performing across the continent before the final date at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk on 25 July. With virtuoso guitarist and longtime collaborator, Dominic Miller, and dynamic drummer Chris Maas (Mumford & Sons, Maggie Rogers), fans have an opportunity to see Sting perform the most electrifying hits and rarities from his timeless discography...