Neil Diamond To Tour With Strings For First Time

Neil Diamond kicks off his 31-North American city tour Sept. 28 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio; the tour winds down Dec. 21 at the Forum in Los Angeles, marking the first time he has played his hometown venue since eight sold-out dates in March 1992.

Diamond will be backed by a nine-piece band plus a horn section and for the first time, a small string section. Instead of playing on a revolving stage in the center of an arena, Diamond will return to a proscenium stage. Plans call for international dates in Europe and Australia next year.

Tour rehearsals begin "full-blast" July 16.