THE brand new production of the Sensational '60s Experience is set to wow audiences throughout the country.

Hosted by MC Alan Mosca from Freddie and the Dreamers, the new tour features Chris Farlowe, Herman's Hermits, Steve Ellis (the voice of Love Affair), New Amen Corner and The Union Gap UK.

As well as recreating iconic songs like If Paradise is Half as Nice, Young Girl and Bend Me Shape Me, these bands will back the solo performers on the tour.

Chris Farlowe needs no introduction as he is one of Britain's foremost R&B singers — his mega-hit Out of Time is an all-time classic.

Herman's Hermits still has original drummer in Barry Whitwam and they will be treating the audiences to such hits as Silhouettes, There's a Kind of Hush, I'm Into Something Good, No Milk Today and My Sentimental Friend — all great memories of the sixties that helped the Hermits outsell The Beatles in America in 1965.

New to the tour this time around is Steve Ellis who, as the singer with Love Affair, hit that charts with Everlasting Love, A Day Without Love and Bringing On Back the Good Times.

The band had all their hits in 1968 and 1969 and seemed set on a lengthy and successful career when Steve decided to leave.

He said: "It was December '69, and because I was the frontman I was getting most of the attention. The band and I had been together since we were 16 in a band called The Soul Survivors.

"We were doing all the package tours and it was like being a hamster in a wheel. Also, we'd got branded as 'teenybop' in the UK and we were getting no real musical payback.

"I mean, it's fantastic to have a great following, but if you can't hear what you're doing, I thought 'what's the point?' and I quit in Newcastle."

After that, Steve formed a couple of bands — Ellis and Widowmaker.

"I made a couple of good albums with Ellis and the track El Doomo was a bit of a classic, but it was commercial suicide really."

Some of the problem lay with his musical legacy.

"Everlasting Love was a two-edged sword. I could never surpass it as it was a massive hit all over the world and it sold over 10 million copies. I mean, it has served me so well but I can never better it."

It has been a while since Steve toured properly and he tells me how he got involved with the Sensational '60s Experience.

"I last toured a couple of years ago, but I always do the odd gig here and there and Billy (one of the promoters) saw me at a gig and said, 'I want you on my tour'."

"I didn't think much more about until I got a load of phone calls from him. I said, 'If you get Chris Farlowe, I'll do it' — and here we are.

"Me and Chris get on really well, so it'll be great."

Despite the "two-edged sword" comment, he cites Everlasting Love as his favourite among his hits.

He said: "I know it's an obvious answer, but I never get fed up of singing it and you get such a spark off the audience."

The Sensational '60s Experience will be appearing at The Opera House, Manchester on Thursday, October 8.

Tickets are available from the Box Office on 0844 871 3018.