'The saddest news': Tributes pour in after UK rock band Viola Beach killed in Swedish car crash

Tributes are pouring in for British rock band Viola Beach and their manager, after they were killed in a car crash in Sweden.

UK rock band Viola Beach

UK rock band Viola Beach Source: AAP

A British rock band and their manager have died after the car they were travelling in plunged more into a canal in Sweden.

The five men, aged between 20 and 35, were killed after their vehicle went through the barrier of a bridge which had opened to let a boat pass underneath on Saturday.

Viola Beach - whose members were Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin - and their manager Craig Tarry died in the incident in Sodertalje, 18 miles (28.96 km) from the capital Stockholm on Saturday.

Tributes from the world of music were paid to the group, from Warrington, Cheshire, who had played the Swedish music festival Where is the Music? on Friday.

The four-piece released their debut single Swings & Waterslides last year and had featured on BBC Introducing, which showcases up-and-coming music artists.
They were due to play a gig in Guildford in Surrey on Saturday but the event was cancelled following the tragedy.

British band The Enemy wrote on social media, "RIP Viola Beach and their manager. Such incredibly tragic and sad news. Thought with the friends and families of all involved x."
James Walsh, lead singer of 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."

Ross Jarman, from The Cribs, said his "heart goes out to the Viola Beach guys and their families" while the Coral's James Skelly posted "So sorry to hear about viola beach and Craig tarry's accident so sad, their families must be devastated."

Radio One DJ Huw Stephens added "So sorry to hear the news about Viola Beach and their manager. The saddest news. Thinking of all their families at this awful time."
Inspector Martin Bergholm said "For some reason, the car drove through the barriers and crashed down into the canal."

The men were identified using the passports they had on them and Swedish police are working with the Foreign Office global response centre.

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Source: AAP


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