A BOOMING voice lauded by the Boomers, Neil Diamond was the soundtrack to the 1960s and 70s.
And now his well-loved classics are coming to Swan Hill Town Hall, with The Sweet Caroline Tour: A Tribute to Neil Diamond hitting the stage on Friday, April 4.
The consummate American singer-songwriter whose deep, resounding voice and timeless tunes have made him one of the world’s most loved and lauded artists, earning him numerous Top Ten hits, Grammy awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Australian singer Zac Coombs takes on Diamond, and explained how it all started.
“This show started in late 2020, when there was auditions going,” he said.
“I thought, I’ve got a big, booming voice, and I’ve got something that can emulate Neil Diamond’s voice very well.
“So I auditioned and because I was a solo performer all around the world on cruise ships for years, at that point, I knew the Neil Diamond catalogue was a very popular catalogue of songs.
“Lo and behold, I got the part. A couple of months later, we did our first tour in New Zealand in 2021, a full tour of Australia, and we’ve also done Canada and Singapore, and we’re doing Australia regionally for the second time in 2025.”
Coombs said the first performance was “daunting”.
“Not only have I got to worry about the songs itself, but the stage presence of just being able to hold a stage or lead a stage as a solo performer.
“We’ve got a great international cast of musicians from all around the world, specifically South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in this run, but the sole focus is Neil Diamond, and I’m playing the Neil Diamond character.
“But nerves is not a bad thing as a performer … if you’re not nervous, then you’re kind of taking things a bit too lightly.”
Coombs said as a singer-songwriter in his own right, he could appreciate the songs that Diamond wrote.
“It was a big back catalogue from the late 1960s through to the 80s, which was peak period, and we delve into all of those songs as well,” he said.
After securing the role, Coombs said time was of the essence with little time for research.
“I got the role in December 2020 and the first show was in May 2021, so during that period I really looked into not only just learning the songs and studying YouTube videos of him performing, but also just understanding the history of his music, and learning facts and titbits for interviews such as this,” he told The Guardian.
“It’s not so much just learning the songs, but learning the history of the artist itself. That’s very important for something as a role as big as this.”
Diamond, now aged 84, hasn’t seen Coombs’ portrayal of him, but said he was “still knowing on his door if he wants to come and see”.
“Hopefully one day we get to bring it the the United States, specifically New York, that’d be a dream,” he said.
Coombs believed Diamond’s hit song Sweet Caroline, released in 1969 and reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, had made such a resurgence within today’s generation due to the “simplicity of the song”.
“There’s not much going on as a song itself,” he said. “It’s a very simple song, and it’s a very simple story.”
“People can attach themselves to very simple stories and simple songs very easily.
“Albeit, like the actual song itself, the arrangement is very intricate in terms of a musical sense, but the simplicity of it is what captures everybody.
“And it’s all about having a good hook and everybody just latches onto it.
“It’s a big anthem in sporting events … the cultural impact that song has is phenomenal.
“The funny thing is, it wasn’t even a No.1 hit from Diamond. It only reached the top 10.”
Coombs said the Swan Hill audience could look forward to hearing and singing along to the biggest hits,
“We do it with costumes that are indicative of what Neil Diamond wore during the heyday of his performing days, and also just a big lighting show as well.”
Coombs said the regional audiences’ appreciation for live music was unrivalled.
“I remember doing a show up in Capella, and it was just this one-horse town,” he said.
“You see how many people are going to come to the show, because it just looked so small, and I’ve never seen such a big response to that show.
“It was quite amazing actually.
“They know how to make a noise, and we’re hoping they make a noise for this show.”
The show starts at 8pm, with tickets ranging from $45.70 to $74.70.
Visit the Swan Hill Town Hall to book tickets and more information.
