Australia and Canada are more than 16,000 kilometres apart but members of Melbourne-based roots trio Jungal are no strangers to the local music scene despite the distance.

In fact, sisters Jessie Jingalwalla (drums) and Leisha Jungalwalla (guitars), along with Victoria Beard (bass), have made Kamloops their base of operation for their latest Canadian tour, the band’s third to date.

“We’ve got a whole bunch of friends here that we made last year,” said Jessie. “We’re in and out of Kamloops a lot.”

The trio’s latest gig is Tuesday night at The Grind at 476 Victoria St. The show begins 7 p.m. and there is no cover charge.

Jungal spent the last two years touring with Toronto-based musician Faye Blais, who the women met at a festival in Melbourne. The two acts hit it off and now Jungal tours Canada during the Canadian summer and Blais heading Down Under for the warm Australian months.

“We ended up swapping summers,” Jessie said.

She said it’s easy for Australian bands to get Canadian visas, which is why so many musicians tour Canada. And it’s common for Canadian acts to play Australian venues.

“Canada is a really great place to come in the summer. The crowds are really enthusiastic,” said Jessie. “We love Canadian crowds.”

Jessie and Leisha have performed together since they were children. They met Beard about 10 years ago but didn’t start hitting the Australian music scene hard until 2007.

The band’s debut studio album, This Crooked Track, was released in 2010. The latest disc, a live recording, will make its debut at The Grind tonight.

“We haven’t even released it in Australia yet,” said Jessie.

Jungal is inspired by the sounds of Amy Winehouse, Dave Matthews Band and Australia’s John Butler Trio. For more information head online to jungalmusic.com.