By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Sunday 21 July, tour runs through 28 July 2024

SETLIST: Agnus Dei; Montauk; Millbrook; Sanssouci; He Loved; Peaceful Afternoon; The Art Teacher; Old Song; Early Morning Madness; Gay Messiah; Ready For Battle; So Long, Marianne; Poses; Dinner At Eight; Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk; Going To A Town; Hallelujah; La Complainte De La Butte

Tomorrow is Wainwright’s 51st birthday and the only gift he asks from us is our forgiveness that he’s not playing the song Barcelona from his debut album.

• Read on for reasons including how this gorgeous outdoor venue was as classy as the superstar that graced its stage

We’ve seen Wainwright live a few times across the years including in 2013 at Barcelona’s Cruilla Festival as well as at House of Rufus shows with his father and a Rufus Does Judy special at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 2011 but never in a venue as idyllic as this.

Les Nits De Barcelona is set in the gardens of the Palau de Pedralbes and this year 19 acts play there throughout July including Mika, The Pretenders, Diana Krall and the Patti Smith Quartet.

There had been thunder and lightning on our arrival in Barcelona this weekend but the evening is sultry and warm as we relax in the gardens before the main set with a support act playing her own songs and covers.

There’s an enchanting attention to detail even before we make it to Wainwright’s set with performers on poles and dressed as peacocks entertaining us as we arrive at the venue which makes for a visually striking evening.

Wainwright plays alone at either a piano or with guitar and confides he is a little discombobulated as his tour comes to an end in Europe and he is taking 2 flights a day to reach its locations.

But any frazzled nerves aren’t on show and the set is a variation on the 1 he has been playing all summer which draws heavily on some of his most acclaimed work at the beginning of his solo career.

He mentions his West End musical Opening Night starring Sheridan Smith and even plays a song from it tonight but it wasn’t a highlight for us.

As an opponent of former US President Donald Trump it was interesting to be in his company on the night that Democrat Joe Biden pulled out of the next presidential race this November.

We think our favourite song is the 1 that best illustrates this feeling of betrayal about the US: ‘I’m Going To A Town that has already been burnt down. I’m so tired of you America.’

The 90 minutes in his company passes quickly and the finish of 11.40pm is 1 of our latest ever gig closes and we’re lucky to make the last Metro train back to Raval.

The evening is full of nice touches and we’re particularly pleased that the venue shared its pictures of tonight’s star performing for us to enjoy.

It’s a pleasure to report that this gorgeous outdoor venue was as classy as the superstar that graced its stage tonight. We’ll definitely be returning to this brilliant destrination in 1 of our favourite cities.

• Main pictures via Les Nits De Barcelona courtesy Rufus Wainwright Tickets
• Have you seen a Rufus Wainwright show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
• Enjoyed this preview? Follow monstagigz on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook