Tributes paid to Viola Beach and their manager

Our thoughts are with the friends and families of Viola Beach and Craig Tarry.

Four members of rising indie-pop band and their manager were killed in a car crash in Sweden yesterday (13 February)

The world has paid tribute today to the members and manager of the Warrington-based indie-pop band Viola Beach, after the five individuals tragically lost their life in a car crash near Stockholm, Sweden yesterday (13 February).

The accident happened in the early hours of Saturday, with the car the four band members and their manager were in falling from a bridge near Stockholm. The bridge has a middle section which rises, causing a gap to form in the bridge. The car fell through this gap and into a canal more than 80ft below the bridge.

A barrier, 50m before the opening, has flashing lights and signs warning there is a bridge opening. Inspector Martin Bergholm, Sodertalje, Sweden told Aftonbladet: “According to witness reports, there were no brake lights on the car so it seems like they simply missed that there was a bridge opening. The witnesses just saw a car beside them and kind of disappear. The only people who knew what went on inside the car are dead.”

The five people in the car were guitarist and vocalist Kristian Leonard, 20, guitarist River Reeves, 19, bass player Tomas Lowe, 27, drummer Jack Dakin, 19 and manager Craig Tarry, 32. Tributes have poured in for the band and their manager.

James Walsh, lead singer of the band Starsailor, said: “Very sad to hear the awful news about Warrington’s Viola Beach and their manager. Lives and music tragically cut short in their prime.”

Songwriter Billy Bragg wrote on Twitter: “Tragic news about Viola Beach. Young band, first tour outside the UK. My thoughts are with their families and friends.”

Viola Beach had been in Sweden to perform at the Where’s The Music? festival in Norrköping last Friday. John Olsson, from Swedish band Psykofant was at Where’s The Music? and said: “They were a great band. I was standing in the audience thinking I will be able to say I hung around with Viola Beach before they made it big.”

Viola Beach formed in Warrington in May 2015, releasing their debut single Swings & Waterslides in August last year. They went on to feature in BBC Introducing, which showcases up-and-coming musicians and were tipped as potential future stars.

Our thoughts are with the friends and families of Viola Beach and Craig Tarry.

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