From Malta to Junction, a very Capsis cabaret

The jet lag was not helping.

But crossing time zones will be less of an issue for his next show: Launceston's own Junction Arts Festival.

"I'm doing all the big islands in the world," he said. "Malta and Tasmania."

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Pulling from all aspects of his vast experience - acting, theatre, cabaret, rock, big bands and monologues - the Malta show was large. Performed entirely in Maltese, Capsis was just one of many performers involved.

In early September when he takes to the stage of The Little Devil, the pop-up art-adorned space unveiled for last year's festival, the Junction audience will be treated to something a little more intimate.

"It's a very different show," Capsis said. "A little show with a piano player from Sydney, a guy called Jeremy Brennan, and we're doing a bunch of songs for the people."

Billed as a ride through the performer's life songbook, it will explore the music from some of the world's most iconic artists: Amy Winehouse, Tom Waites, Patti Smith, Nina Simone and more.

This will mark only the third time Capsis has performed the show. The first two being back home in Sydney's Darlinghurst Theatre.

[Related: Junction Music and Arts Festival launched with Sawtooth party]

"That world of cabaret and darkness - the venues in Sydney have basically all shut down," he said. "And I got invited to play this intimate theatre on a quiet night ... that is when I went and threw this set together."

"People go to bed at 10 o'clock and you can't get a falafel at 11pm now. I don't know what it's like in Launceston.

"But when when it came to this show, I thought you know, 'I really love that song and I'd love to do it again ... [and] bring it back and do it in this kind of setting."

Though visiting Hobart on a number of occasions, the trip across the Bass Strait will only be Capsis' second time in Launceston. The first singing with a jazz band at an RSL - part of his "thing" back then.

When asked by artistic director Greg Clarke, a colleague and associate of his from years ago who Capsis also knew through his work as artistic director of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, he could not resist the offer.

"He's been their artistic director and the best one they've had in a very long time," Capsis said. "I've played there [in Tasmania] a lot over the years so it's a favourite place to go to and to work."

"I reckon it's going to be fun."

Launching the festival program in July, Mr Clarke said it would be bigger and better than ever, adding 10 events from last year to a total of 32 across its five-day schedule.

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