Tributes are being paid to the four members of indie-band Viola Beach and their manager following their tragic deaths in a car crash near Stockholm on Saturday morning.
The band, which consisted of Kris Leonard (19), River Reeves (19), Tomas Lowe (27) Jack Dakin (24) and their 32-year-old manager Craig Tarry, fell more than 80ft into a canal after careering through a gap in a bridge, which had opened to let a boat pass underneath, reports say.
They were on the line-up for ‘Where is the Music?’ festival in Norrköping on Friday and were believed to be driving back to the airport in the early hours for a gig in Guildford in Surrey on Saturday.
This was the band’s first international gig, leaving family, friends and fans distraught at the sudden loss of such a talented group and passionate manager.
In a statement released, via the UK Foreign Office, those close to Mr Tarry, said they were “devastated”, adding: “Craig was a warm, loving person who had worked tirelessly to achieve success and follow his dreams within the music industry.
“He will be sadly missed by his family and his colleagues.”
Officially forming in May last year, Viola Beach released their debut single ‘Swings & Waterslides’ in August. They also played for several BBC Introducing sessions as well as performing at Reading & Leeds Festival in 2015.
BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens said the Warrington-based band were “incredibly promising”, posting to Twitter: “So sorry to hear the news about Viola Beach and their manager. The saddest news. Thinking of all their families at this awful time.”
They had previously toured with the Courteeners and worked with Mumford and Sons’ producer, Ian Grimble.
The band were set to return to “The Lounge”, the club in which they first began playing, next month. A poster oustide still promises their return, but while silence prevails, their music will always live on.
This is truly a tragic incident and a loss of such young and gifted people. Our thoughts are with the victims and the families involved.
The families and friends of Viola Beach are campaigning to propel the bands debut single ‘Swings and Waterslides‘ to the top of the charts.
You can purchase the single here.
