Calendar Park Innisfail to host Punjabi Virsa concert featuring Sangtar, Manmohan Waris and Kamal Heer

A Far North community will enjoy free access to a global music trio which is otherwise selling tickets for as much as $300 on its Australian tour.

Punjabi folk music trio Sangtar, Manmohan Waris and Kamal Heer will perform at Innisfail. Picture: Facebook.

A Far North community will enjoy free access to a global music trio which is otherwise selling tickets for as much as $300 on its Australian tour.

Innisfail’s growing Indian Punjabi community raised $75,000 in donations to draw brothers Manmohan Waris, Kamal Heer and Sangtar for a free concert at Calendar Park on Friday.

Organiser Jashan Sandhu said drawing the popular trio to the rural community ahead of performances at major capital city venues was a huge coup for the small town.

“But to see the whole community come together and donate and make this happen is something to be really proud of,” Mr Sandhu said.

Punjabi folk music trio Sangtar, Manmohan Waris and Kamal Heer will perform at Innisfail. Picture: Facebook.

He said the growth of Punjabi culture was evident at Innisfail in recent years, with the latest census showing it was the most spoken language, after English and Indigenous languages.

“Every year there are more and more events. We’ve been putting on our sports events for many years and they’re always free and open to the whole community, not just us,” he said.

“There’s maybe just under 1000 Punjabi people in the area, but the community knows we’re here and we always see non-Punjabi people attend.”

The event known as Punjabi Virsa will enterain the local crowd with traditional folk music.

Friday’s festival will open at 10am, with food and activity stalls open to everyone.

The main concert will begin about 4.30pm.

Originally published as Calendar Park Innisfail to host Punjabi Virsa concert featuring Sangtar, Manmohan Waris and Kamal Heer