COUNTRY music legend Troy Cassar-Daley admitted to a guilty secret at Roma's Bassett Park on Saturday: he is a closet crooner.

"Swing is what I sing when I'm in the shower or driving the car," Troy said.

 "As much as there was Slim Dusty on the radio when I was growing up,  my grandfather would put on now and then some Frank Sinatra and I really love it."

The appreciative large crowd loved it too as he donned the tuxedo and blasted out swing standards from the back of a ute accompanied by the big band sound of the Queensland Youth Orchestra performing as part of the Queensland Music Festival's Swingin' Utes.

The only complaint from his legion of fans was that was it didn't go on for even longer.

Troy did two sets, first a traditional country and western set with his own band before returning to the stage with the orchestra.

Cassar-Daley was the consummate professional overcoming a heavy cold and trying to rest his voice in the lead up.

Conductor Barry Gott said that wasn't easy.

"Troy went into the IGA and ended up talking to everyone," he said.

"We had to send someone down after 45 minutes to get him out."

Troy himself thanked the staff of Roma Hospital for checking out his condition on the Saturday afternoon but he was given the all clear to play.

The Swingin' Utes festival went on all day Saturday with local talent providing the entertainment as well as a car show with plenty of utes in attendance.

The crowd built gradually all day before Troy took to the stage around 6pm.

It has been a while since he last entertained Romaites.

"We did Stock Up for Hope about three years ago, that was a wonderful night to support chaplaincy in the schools," Troy said.

"I went out for a day to Roma to do publicity and I went to the Saleyards and had lunch in town at the Club Hotel."

Troy said returning to the Club was a trip down memory lane.

"I played the Club Hotel many, many years since I was a kid with the Blue Heeler Band on our way to Longreach," he said.