The Melbourne-based singer-songwriter will bring his Unplugged and Unfiltered show to Albury Entertainment Centre on July 20.

The runner-up of Australian Idol 15 years ago, Callea's debut single The Prayer became Australia's highest and fastest-selling single ever on release.

In Albury this week, Callea said there were both amazing highs and lows during his Idol experience aged 21.

"Singing had always been part of my life but then all of a sudden you're catapulted onto this massive stage in front of the entire country on the biggest rating show at the time," he said.

"It was overwhelming at times and I didn't know how to process it.

"There's some stories I haven't shared before, experiences that I did go through on Idol.

"This tour is all about opening myself up and for my audience not only to get to know me but I want to know them; there's a bit of an improv section in my show that I have a bit of fun with ... and we write a song on the night with my audience. It's a fun night!"

The eldest child in his family and the eldest grandchild of 16 cousins, Callea said musicality didn't run in his family. His father, grandfather and three uncles were builders, others a dentist and lawyer.

"So I'm like the black sheep of the family!" Callea quipped.

"At the age of five I turned around to my mum, I was watching someone sing on TV, and I said I want to do that. She sent me to a performing arts school and I had a vocal coach from the age of five by the name of Liana Scali (Jane Scali's sister), and I had her to the age of 18 or 19; she was my only vocal coach and I absolutely adore her and respect her.

"She took me through my VCE; I ended up topping the state with Melissa Higgins, who is Missy Higgins."

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Callea will showcase material from a stellar recording career - taking in 15 years and seven albums - in Unplugged and Unfiltered.

"Being on stage and performing live is where I feel at home and come alive; for me, it's about honing in on the lyrics and melody and delivering them with purity, honesty and gusto, and what better way to do that than acoustically with piano, guitar and vocals?

"The 'unfiltered' part represents my Italian mouth and how at times, there's no filter between my head and mouth, which can sometimes get me in trouble, especially with my mum!"