The 18 members of the Queensland Youth Orchestra Big Band touched down in Mount Isa yesterday and were straight to work fine-tuning tomorrow's performance.

Event organiser Yvonne Moore said the festival had been in planning all year but now it was only hours away tension was building.

"Now we've got the equipment making its way down to Buchanan Park and the stage is set up in the rodeo ground it's all very real," she said.

"Watching it all evolve in the next (24) hours is what's the most exciting part."

Ms Moore said it was an incredible opportunity for local kids to mix with the professional orchestra, as they could finally see all their hard work pay off.

"One of the kids involved said to me 'we won't know what it's like until we're there', and I think that's completely right because we've had shows and performances but they've never had the chance to be involved with something this professional," she said.

"Not all (the big band students) will be professional musicians, I'm sure there are a few future doctors and scientists in there and that's the same with our kids, it's just that they have this passion for music."

Queensland Youth Orchestra Big Band tour manager Linda Cox said crowds could expect a loud, energetic swing set from the group's performance, something they've been practising for close to a year now.

The Swingin' Utes Festival will kick off from 12.30pm tomorrow at Buchanan Park, wrapping up at 8pm.

Entry is free and people are encouraged to bring their own chairs and picnic rugs to enjoy the show.

n FINAL PREPARATION: Queensland Youth Orchestra Big Band members Luke Hester, Ashleigh Howell, Sean Mackenzie and Sam Hewerdine used Mount Isa School of the Air to practice yesterday with Swingin' Utes organiser Yvonne Moore. - Picture: EMMA KENNEDY/7739