FANS of music from the 1960s are being promised a great night at the Pavilion this week.

Carl Leighton-Pope grew up in Soho and has worked in the music scene since he was a teenager, giving him the first hand experiences to draw on when he wrote new musical Carnaby Street.

Carl said those who lived through the flower power generation and those who have discovered the music of the era afterwards have been enjoying the show, which is on an 11-week tour.

“There’s lots of great songs in it,” Carl said.

“When we first brought the cast together and played all the songs to them they all knew them straight away and this was with kids in their 20s.

“The energy of the songs is amazing and we knew we had a show that worked, people would come along and dance and sing and we would be in business.

“And it was extraordinary seeing it all come together.

“It was quite emotional.”

Carl has used his memories from working in the Marquee Club in London and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Rod Stewart, The Who and The Yardbirds.

In 1964 he was an 18-year-old mod riding scooters and fighting rockers on Brighton beach.

Carl was living at his dad’s pub in Soho and would see music stars Carnaby Streetwhen he met his friends there on Saturdays.

“I was in the middle of it all and bought my clothes inCarnaby Street,” Carl added.

“I lived two streets away and when we were there we would see Mick Jagger or Keith Moon walking about.”

He has gone on to work as an agent with artists including Bryan Adams and Michael Buble but has taken time out to write and produce the new musical.

Carnaby Street is directed by Bob Tomson, of Blood Brothers and Dreamboats & Petticoats and the cast includes Aaron Sidwell, who played Steven Beale in Eastenders.

It tells the story of a teenage boy following his dream to become a rock star and more than 30 classic hits from the time including Keep On Running.

Carl said the show has been put together using a seven-figure investment and wants to see it become a hit in the West End and America after the tour.

Carnaby StreetCarnaby Street will be staged at the Pavilion from June 25 to June 29.