Diamond to croon songs sung in red, white, and blue

(File photo: Christof Stache/AP)

Locals may soon hear "Sweet Caroline" in a venue other than Fenway Park.

Neil Diamond, the pop singer whose hit "Sweet Caroline" has become a sort of unofficial anthem of Red Sox home games, will join Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops for this year's free Fourth of July concert on the Esplanade, said Liberty Mutual, the Boston insurance company that is the event's official sponsor.

"The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, which draws approximately 500,000 concert goers annually, will be hosted again by Craig Ferguson of CBS's 'The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,'" Liberty Mutual said in a press release. "For those celebrating at home, CBS television network will broadcast the concert live on July 4th from 10 - 11 pm ET. The final 21 minutes of the telecast, featuring the fireworks display, will be presented commercial free by Liberty Mutual."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)