People Are Calling This The Closest You Will Get To Hearing Neil Diamond Live Again
Neil Diamond may not tour anymore, but his spirit is about to shake the Costa del Sol. In Benalmádena, fans are whispering about a singer who sounds so close to the real thing that people walk out saying, “I felt like I was 22 again.”
His name is Nigel Smith, and he used to train racehorses before he changed careers. Now he stands under the lights at The Moonlight Lounge Bar inside Sunset Beach Club and delivers two full hours of pure Neil Diamond nostalgia.
The show is called “Solitary Man,” and it runs on Saturday, December 20, 2025. Doors open at 7:45 PM and the show starts at 8:30 PM. Tickets are 20 euros in advance and 25 euros on the door, organized by 234 Promo.
Expect the big ones, from Solitary Man and Cracklin Rosie to Song Sung Blue, America and Sweet Caroline. Attendees claim the first note of Solitary Man can make the whole room fall silent. Not many tribute acts get a standing ovation before the halfway mark. Nigel did.
Then there are The Diamondettes, the backing singers who complete the sound. When their harmonies rise behind him, it stops feeling like a tribute and starts feeling like a memory.
It’s a Beautiful Noise the Neil Diamond Tribute
Solitary Man was his first big hit in 1966 and it set the tone for his whole career. In this classic live performance from his peak years at the Greek Theatre, you can hear the rugged edge and grit that fans still talk about today. The driving guitar, the bold brass and the lonely lyrics all show why this song matters so much.
Solitary Man (Live At The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles/1972)
And of course ‘Sweet Caroline’ is the anthem that turns a room of strangers into one big choir. In this legendary live performance, you can see why it still closes shows around the world. The crowd jumps in on every “ba ba ba,” hands in the air, voices echoing the chorus back to the stage. The female harmonies lift the sound even higher, just like The Diamondettes will in Benalmádena.