Tributes paid to UK band Viola Beach after fatal crash

  • Published
Four manager of the band Viola Beach

Members of the British band Viola Beach have been killed in a car accident in Sweden.

It's reported the car in which they were travelling hit a roadside barrier and plunged into a canal.

The Introducing act appeared in session with Huw Stephens in November.

They were in Sweden performing at the Where's the Music? festival. They were preparing to travel with BBC Introducing to the South By South West (SXSW) festival in Texas next month.

Check their video out., external

Formed in Warrington the indie-pop band was made up of members Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin.

Huw Stephens, fellow bands and fans have been paying tribute on social media.

Huw said it was "the saddest news"., external

Speaking to Newsbeat he said: Viola Beach were an incredibly promising and great new band, who were already doing great things".

Fellow Radio 1 presenter Phil Taggart, who has also worked closely with the band, said he was speechless.

He said the band had their whole lives ahead of them, external

Rob da Bank tweeted too.

He said they were a "superb band"., external

Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac tweeted her reaction.

She said the news was "unfathomable"., external

The band Man & The Echo are also from Warrington and said the news was horrendous., external

One fan described the news as desperately sad., external

"They would have been massive," the said another band, This Feeling., external

Their manager, Craig Tarry, is reported to have been the fifth person in the vehicle.

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