Viola Beach: The perfect way to say goodbye

The Viola Beach memorial concert in Warrington was billed as a "celebration of five remarkable young men".

That's exactly what happened.

Before the gig, a conga line ran from the bar where the band used to play at and work in to the entrance of Parr Hall.

"This is what they would have wanted," said Oli a friend of the band.

This is Newbeat's conga video on instagram

All four members of Viola Beach, made up of Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe, and Jack Dakin and their manager Craig Tarry died in a car accident near the Swedish capital Stockholm in February.

"In a few years' time they would have been selling out arenas and winning awards," continued Oli.

"For this to be happening is a great way to say goodbye."

The Courteeners dedicated Here Come the Young Men to Viola Beach

The gig was made up of sets from the band's friends and musical influences and included sets by The Kooks, The Coral and Blossoms - who Viola Beach were on tour with when they died.

See a list of bands who were playing.

"I don't think any of us could prepare for something like that," Blossoms told Newsbeat.

"It's unheard of in history it's so devastating and shocking.

"You know they would have been having the time of their lives. It could have been us."

The evening was hosted by Radio 1's Phil Taggart.

Phil Taggart's tweet - The Viola Beach tribute nights here in Warrington is unbelievably emotional and affirming. What a night! A lot of tears and a lot of guitars

He said: "In my lifetime I can't think of anything happening in the music industry as crippling and sad as what happened to the boys in Viola Beach."

Listen to Newsbeat's Soundcloud post about Viola Beach.

Having been featured on BBC Introducing and playing a session in the famous Maida Vale studios, Viola Beach we due to play at SXSW in Texas as part of a BBC showcase in March.

"In situations like this people can glorify what a band can were capable of," Phil continued.

"But on a more level playing field I was playing Viola Beach on my show, and Huw Stephens was as well.

"You saw this really raw potential, it was at that point where they knew they were going to do something.

"This venue that we're at right now, Parr Hall, they had it on hold anyway.

"They were going to play to 1,100 people. For a band with essentially one EP out that's unheard of."

Their friends and family sung their opening song on stage

As with every show Viola Beach had booked before they died their final set, which was recorded in Leamington Spa, was played in full.

For the memorial concert the set was also accompanied by video footage of the band on tour and their friends and family performing the song they used to sing together before every show.

The gig ended with swings and waterslides - Intsa vid from Newsbeat account

The set finished with Swings and Waterslides, the song which got to number 11 in the UK chart following a campaign after the accident.

As the last chords rang out there was a rumble that came from a community of thousands of musicians, family and friends who had gathered in Parr Hall who all wanted more Viola Beach.

"The celebration tonight is the positive," said Phil Taggart.

"But this tragedy with Viola Beach is going to last for a long, long time."

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