Almost 20,000 ute lovers are expected to roll into the small NSW town of Deniliquin for the Deni Ute Muster, a two-day Australiana festival on September 29 and 30. Missy Higgins, Lee Kernaghan, John Williamson, The Whitlams, Jessica Mauboy, Adam Harvey and Beccy Cole join the stellar lineup of performances on the main stage in 2023. Each year, as the event grows in popularity, festival-goers attempt to beat two records: the largest collections of utes and blue singlet wearers. Both records are held by the festival and are unchallenged, organisers believe. The record for largest gathering of utes stands at 9,736 but general manager Vicky Lowry said an increase in groups arriving in family-friendly cars means the record will likely not be eclipsed this year. However the festival stands a significant chance of beating the record for the largest group of people wearing blue singlets, Mrs Lowry said. The record stands at 4,136 and will be challenged on September 30. Attendees can also catch whip-cracking and wood-chopping side attractions as well as monster truck rides, ferret racing, bogan bingo, fireworks, camels and helicopter touring. Despite weather creeping towards 30 degrees, visitors to the muster can even strap on a pair of skates to glide on the synthetic ice rink. IN OTHER NEWS: Deniliquin's Ute Muster was founded in 1999 after the small town was crippled with drought and income was "drying up". A small group of community-minded people started the festival to bring visitors to the struggling town.