Giannis Kapsalis is bringing the sound of Epirotika and other traditional folk songs to Australia this long weekend.

The popular Greek singer will fill Nafpaktos House as Melbourne’s Greeks enjoy two concerts on October 29 and 31 in the spirit of the anniversary of ‘OHI’ Day on 28 October.

Kapsalis, was born and raised in the village of Zitsa, near Ioannina into a musical family.

He developed a love for Byzantine music and dimotika early on listening to his grandfather, Polychronis Kapsalis, a great ‘klarino’ or clarinet soloist.

His first experience with the stage and a live audience was at the age of 12, when he sang Pio Kali I Monaxia by Giannis Parios at a panigyri in his village and he was encouraged to pursue a career by his father, Stavros, another talented musician. His brother Chronis is also a musician. He plays drums and percussion.

Kapsalis, has been part of the folk music scene since he the age of 17. He carved out his own path in the industry and has collaborated with greats like Giota Griva and Themis Adamantidis.

His reputation grew from making appearances at Greek regional festivals and he steadily rose to where he is today, regarded as the number one artist at the moment in the dimotika genre in Greece.

He has worked with all of the biggest names in the Greek folk music genre, Filio Pirgaki, Giannis Konstantinou, Tasia Verra and has also collaborated with laika greats like Themis Adamantidis, Vasilis Karras, Makis Christodoulopoulos to name a few.

Some of his most popular songs are To Mantili, Ta Kagielia and Ti ti ti Na Kano. His shows are a mix of modern songs and also well known traditional songs from all regions of Greece.

Along with Kapsalis Australian audiences will get to enjoy talented klarino soloist, Makis Tsikos, originally from Thesprotia. Tsikos was born in Canada and arrived in Greece at the age of eight.

When & Where:

Friday 28 October at the 58 – 76 Stanmore Road, Stanmore, NSW

Saturday 29 and Monday 31 October at the Nafpaktos House, 2-18 Ross St, Heatherton, VIC

Bookings: 0417 399 986