A few months ago, I wrote a college entrance paper on why Sting is not an idiot, and why he’s actually pretty smart and successful. It went on for a couple of pages, but somewhere towards the end, I concluded that he does what makes him happy (even if he does lose his mind every so often), and he still sells hundreds of millions, so how could that make him anything but smart and successful? Personal anecdote aside, the former Police bassman returns to the stage this summer with what’s being billed as, “An Evening with Sting.”

What a summer evening this will be, too! In addition to longtime guitarist Dominic Miller, multi-percussionist David Cossin (of the Bang on a Can All-Stars), vocalist Jo Lawry, and bassist Ira Coleman, Sting will also be surrounded by The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, which will be conducted by no other than Maestro Steven Mercurio (of Pavarotti & Bocelli fame). As the press list states, “Sting’s greatest hits will be reinterpreted with brand new orchestrations created especially for this tour. Selections will include fan-favorites such as ‘Roxanne’, ‘Next To You’, ‘Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic’ and ‘Every Breath You Take’, to notable songs from Sting’s enduring solo career – ‘Englishman in New York’, ‘Fragile’, ‘Russians’, ‘If I Ever Lose My Faith in You’, ‘Fields of Gold’, and ‘Desert Rose.’”

The itinerary is short right now — with appearances in Vancouver, Denver, LA, and Chicago set — but fans can expect more dates to come, especially in these cities: New York, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle and Washington, and a return to Canada, with stops in Toronto and Montreal planned. More cities and even a string of UK dates will be announced, as well.

Tickets for the first three dates go on-sale March 8th, while tickets for Ravinia Festival don’t go on-sale ’til April 22nd. (Hit up Ticketmaster.com). So, start saving up Chicago, that is if you’re not planning on attending Pitchfork Music Festival.

You couldn’t pick any other weekend in July, Sting?

An Evening with Sting 2010 Tour Dates
06/02 – Vancouver, BC @ Centre For the Performing Arts
06/09 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
06/15 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
07/17-18 - Chicago, IL @ Ravinia Festival