“The last time I was here, I played with Ian Moss from Cold Chisel,” he recalled.
“I had to warn people, it was all about the guitar and rock and roll.”
This year, Troy soaked up the atmosphere before hitting the stage, taking in the rodeo, car displays, and even joining Kasey Chambers for a surprise song at the chairman’s reception on Friday.
“It was great to repay their faith,” he said.
“Being a sold-out festival, it’s been a beautiful build the whole way through.”
The Muster’s evolving vibe hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“When I first came here, it was all young blokes and utes. Now it’s grown into something more family focused.
“I saw kids racing around on little motorised bikes; one of them couldn’t have been more than three.
“That’s the kind of memory that sticks.”
Troy’s set included tracks from his critically acclaimed 12th album, Between the Fires, which earned him five Golden Guitars in 2025, adding to his record-breaking 45 wins - the most of any artist.
He also picked up an ARIA award last year and reflected on surpassing Slim Dusty’s record.
“It wasn’t something I planned to do,” he said.
“Slim had already made a bunch of records before the awards even started.”
Fans at Deni were treated to a mix of new songs, old favourites, and a few surprise covers, including a Bob Dylan classic and a track Troy used to play at the Deniliquin Bowling Club, called V8 Town.
“It was always a bit of a rev-head town Deni, even before this muster.
“We get so many requests for that song down here.”
Troy still has fond memories of his HK Holden with a humble 186 engine, but now drives a a vintage EH Holden with a “lovely little V8”.
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