Country artist Bella MacKenzie will make her first appearance at the Deni Ute Muster this weekend, with a big trip ahead of her to meet her increasingly busy schedule.
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She will travel from Normanton in Queensland’s Gulf Country before heading straight back north, and then on to Nashville for a month‑long stint.
“I love it; I honestly don’t even really think of it as travel,” she said.
“We’re doing those three massive trips, and then we go straight to Nashville for a month.
“I’m just looking forward to it.”
From the stories she’s heard about our famous festival, MacKenzie said she can’t wait to experience it for herself.
“I have so many friends in the music industry who have played Deni before, and they always come back with the most amazing stories,” she said.
“They love playing it so much.
“I’m just looking forward to meeting all the fans.
“It’s a whole other part of the country I’ve never really played a festival in.”
MacKenzie said she is especially excited to share a lineup with Lee Kernaghan, who holds a special place in her musical journey.
“Lee Kernaghan was my first ever country concert. any time I get to see Lee, it’s pretty crazy and full circle.
“Every single time I get to share a lineup with him, I have to pinch myself.”
MacKenzie has released several singles this year, including There Must Be Fire, Blacksmith Girl and Neon Never Lies, and confirmed each will feature in her Muster set.
“We’ve put out a fair few singles, and we’ve still got a couple more to go this year.
“It’s been a massive year of music. I’m super excited to play them live.
“A lot of people have been listening to the songs, but haven’t got to see me live yet.”
MacKenzie also revealed she has a surprise for her fans attending the Muster, as she plans to debut two unreleased songs.
“I’ve got two more singles to come this year. They won’t be out yet when I’m at the festival, but I’m going to play them.
“They’ll be unreleased at the time, a little debut.
“I don’t think I’ve played either of them live yet.”
MacKenzie’s sound blends contemporary country with youthful storytelling.
“I’d say it’s super contemporary country. I love a bit of an edgier storytelling moment.
“I write about my own life from a young girl’s perspective, a modern country twist with traditional style songwriting.
“It’s super raw and real, like the traditional roots of country music but mixed with a young girl’s perspective.”
And fans of MacKenzie’s TikTok content can expect a few more to be made at the Muster.
“I met a couple of girls at CMC Rocks who also have a big following as country creators.
“I find it super fun, it’s an awesome way to connect with fans and show behind‑the‑scenes moments they might not see from out the front of the stage.
“I’ll definitely be on the content grind at Deni.”
When asked the traditional Ute Muster question - do you own a ute? - MacKenzie laughed.
“My dad is obsessed with old Toyota LandCruisers.
“We always used to have super old ones.
“He had this old 40 Series LandCruiser he used to drop us off to primary school in, and back then I thought it was the most uncool thing ever; I’d ask him to drop us around the corner.
“But now I think they’re so cool. We still have an old 79 Series sitting in the yard. We’re definitely a ute family.”
MacKenzie encourages fans to arrive ready to sing this weekend.
And if you aren’t familiar with her music, there’s plenty of time to learn.
“Get on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, whatever you listen to your music on, and try and learn the words. It’s always so much fun when everyone’s singing along.
“It’s more fun for the crowd too when they know the words, and we can all have a big sing‑along together.”
The Deni Ute Muster promises two unforgettable days of music, culture, and community spirit.
This year’s event continues its proud tradition of celebrating the Aussie ute and rural lifestyle with a jam-packed program for all ages.
Camping is a major part of the Deni Ute Muster tradition, with free general camping available from October 2-5 as part of your ticket.
Find out more and book your tickets at www.deniutemuster.com.au.