Neil Diamond has added a second concert to his Honolulu return to Blaisdell Arena in February — the platinum-selling pop star’s first shows in the islands since 1976.
The added show will be Feb. 18, in addition to a previously announced Feb. 16 concert. Tickets will go on sale for the second show at 9 a.m. Saturday.
If there was any doubt about whether fans would turn out for the Grammy-winning author of such songs as "Cracklin’ Rosie," "Solitary Man" and "I Am, I Said," it’s been resolved. With tickets for the Feb. 16 show ranging from $49 to $159, a Ticketmaster check showed that nearly all of the top-priced seats have been sold, no $49 tickets are left and remaining $59 tickets are near the back of the arena.
The added show is on a Saturday night, while the first show is on a Thursday.
Diamond is being showcased in Hawaii by Marek Lieberberg of Frankfurt, Germany, who presented a series of sold-out shows with the pop star in Europe this year, and Ron Gibson Entertainment, which brought the Doobie Brothers to Honolulu.
Diamond is coming to Hawaii with a full band and stage act. In a statement, Lieberberg said Diamond "is a unique, warm performer with an incredible band."
The performer, whose career stretches back to the ’60s, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. He’s sold more than 128 million albums worldwide, with 37 Top 10 singles and 16 Top 10 albums in the United States. Though his stardom reached its peak in the ’70s, his popularity has been lasting. Diamond’s last studio album, "Home Before Dark" (2008), debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
Artists of Diamond’s "triple-A" status draw an audience even in tough economic times, Gibson said. "This isn’t just a concert; it’s an event," he explained.
The promoter was enthusiastic about the possibility of bringing more high-profile concerts to Honolulu via the partnership with Lieberberg’s operation. "By teaming up with a strong partner in Hawaii, we hope that the future brings great things," he said.
Tickets are $49, $59, $99 and $159, available at the Blaisdell Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at 800-745-3000.
