It all started on a lark for Billy Farmer, frontman for the Neil Diamond tribute band The Diamond Experience.

“I have an uncanny ability to sound like Neil Diamond,” Farmer said. “I’ve always enjoyed Neil Diamond’s songs. I’ve played them down through the years. Some of my musician friends, who ended up being the other guys in the group, encouraged me to do a tribute act, and we decided to try it.”

The local band booked a couple of tryout gigs at retirement homes in Tacoma, and after receiving rave reviews from the audiences, decided to make a go of it.

“It went really well,” Farmer said. “Soon we played Taste of Tacoma, and one thing just led to another.”

Nearly four years later, The Diamond Experience will bring a taste of Neil Diamond Saturday to the Auburn Avenue Theater.

“There is just something special about his music,” Farmer said. “It’s wholesome and honest and the songs are very catchy.”

With a 90-minute set featuring about 20 of Diamond’s hits – ranging from his early work for television shows, such as The Monkees (“I’m A Believer”) to songs from his movie “The Jazz Singer” – there is something for every Diamond fan, Farmer said.

“He just has some big songs that people really like to hear,” Farmer said. “They request ‘America’, and ‘Forever In Blue Jeans’. Another one that people really like is ‘Sweet Caroline’. They always request that. It’s such a good song. It’s almost like you can hear the sun shining when you listen to it.”

Even Farmer has his favorite tune.

“Mine is a song called, ‘Play Me’,” he said. “It’s kind of a sappy ballad, love song, but it has imagery that is unlike any other song.”

In the song, Diamond compares himself to the moon, while singing that the object of his affection is like the sun, Farmer said.

“He also sings, ‘You are the words, I am the tune’,” he said. “I just like that imagery of two being unable to exist without each other.”

Although the bulk of Diamond’s hits came in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, Farmer said he’s always amazed at the diverse ages of people who show up to his concerts.

“We see people anywhere from 25 to 55,” he said. “It seems to be a time-defying audience. It’s always a wonder for me.”

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Show time

• What: Live at the Ave presents The Diamond Experience

• When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday

• Where: Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Auburn Ave.

• Tickets: $17 regular, $15 students and seniors. Call 253-931-3043, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/144289.

• Info: www.thedxp.com.