The camp site at the Deniliquin Ute Muster was filled with the sound of both cans and whips cracking, but the noise was nothing compared to previous years.
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Regular festival attendees described the event as being much more “tame” this year lacking late night revving sessions and rowdiness they had come to know.
Finley's Mitch McLennan has been to every muster, besides two, since the event began in 1999.
He said the usual big night on Friday was much quieter across the camp site compared to the “good old days”.
“I remember one year they were pumping water off the site for two days before the muster because it was flooded,” Mr McLennan said.
“We used to surf behind the utes while they were driving around and I remember one year there was a bloke who had a tinny tied to the back of his ute with a chain, they had their fishing rods going in the mud.
“It stuffed the tinny, it wouldn't have been good for anything after that.
“But obviously you can't do that now.”
Mr Mclennan said people in the area appreciated the event because it fed the economy.
He said he hoped in future years organisers would bring in some new country artists to ensure it kept growing.
“It's only 40 minutes from home for me, so it would be a bit rude not to show up,” he said.
“It’s a good weekend, we have a good crew and we come from all over and meet up.
“It's something to do, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea but it is what you make it.”
Several campers noticed a much bigger police presence at this year's event but still managed to have a good time.
Men who piled into the back of a ute cheered as they copped a face-full of dust while being driven down one of the camping roadways.
Country hospitality was on full display with the offer of a cold beer or some roast lamb fresh out of the coals never too hard to come by.
Bags of ice appeared to be the most wanted commodity as temperatures reached excess of 30 degrees on a scorching Saturday afternoon.
The festival is known for its blue singlets and utes, as 5988 drove to Deni from across the country.
A record 3958 people donned the token blue singlets beating the count of 3924 in 2013.
Wangaratta man Jarryd Forshaw said while he has noticed the event growing annualy, he thought it was important to remember its origins.
“People definitely come for the bands,” he said.
“But I mean Birds of Tokyo, it's a country festival, I reckon that is more revenue raising to attract people from the cities with a band.
“The music needs to be more true to the original country feel at Deni.”
