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Sounds by the River concert gives 'morale boost' to Mannum after impacts of River Murray flooding

Thousands of people have flocked to the South Australian town of Mannum for a concert aiming to bring a "morale boost" and much-needed tourism spend to the flood-hit region. 

Paul Kelly, Bernard Fanning and Missy Higgins headlined Saturday's Sounds by the River concert, which is now in its 13th year.

But the festival hit a last-minute hiccup after the original riverside venue, Mary-Anne Reserve, became submerged by floodwaters.

The sold-out show — held two weeks after the River Murray peak reached Mannum — was moved to the local golf club with 5,500 festival-goers travelling from far and wide to attend.

The concert's promoter, Duane McDonald, said the impacts of recent flooding on the town had been a challenge.

"It's been difficult," he said.

"The town's very resilient and made it well-known that they wanted it to proceed."

Good weather greeted the thousands of attendees, with hopes they would also spend money at local businesses.

"It's a morale boost for the town," Mr McDonald said.

"We're just hoping and pushing and praying that everybody goes down to the street and visits the traders and spends a dollar in the town because it needs it."

Country music star Troy Cassar-Daley said he was "really pumped" to be performing at Mannum.

"We've been through floods ourselves when we had a property as well so it's really, really hard on people but it's beautiful to see everyone come together," he said.

He said the concert was about helping people "have a ball", particularly those who have been hard-hit by flooding impacts.

"It's really about morale, making people feel good … It's really important for their hearts to come out and just try and forget about things for awhile," he said.

The state government kicked in $78,000 to ensure the concert could go ahead, assisting in the relocation from the reserve to the Mannum Golf Club.

According to the government, past Sounds by the River concerts have generated about $3 million to the local economy.

SA's tourism minister Zoe Bettison said the concert would provide "a much-needed positive boost during what is normally the region's peak season".

Concert-goer Dave Bull travelled from SA's Eyre Peninsula to attend.

"At the moment with the floods and everything, it's important for tourism and that to be happening and to be able to support the locals and give money back to the community," he said.

Aaron, who came from Adelaide for the show, said the concert was "vital" for the town of Mannum after the impacts of the flooding.

"Everyone's here for the same reason, that's to support the locals," he said.

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