Written by: Amelia Davies
Eight years later, Warrington still remembers the tragic car crash killing Viola Beach’s upcoming stars. But what makes them so memorable compared to other music icons originating from Warrington?
How many times have you told someone you were from Warrington, and they threw a quizzical look or asked where it was or smiled curtly and breathed loudly through their nose? Viola Beach didn’t allow the venomous remarks to affect them, instead they remained proud of their heritage and aspired to put Warrington on the map by utilising their daring essence, eccentric melodies, and potential.
Rise to Fame:
Formed in 2013, Viola Beach was an indie pop band, destined for greatness with their self-funded, first single ‘Swings and Waterslides’ that broke into the singles charts. They had been touring England, performed at Leeds’s Reading Festival and secured a spot at Glastonbury in 2016. People were tired of the generic, soulless music being produced repetitively so their work had blown people away by introducing them to new sounds that could emit from the pop industry, and filling people with optimism to music’s future. With the logo of a palm tree and a rainbow representative, Viola Beach had been described to be the colour in an industrial town.
The Incident:
Ecstatic, lively, and prideful, the band was driving back to their hotel in Stockholm at two in the morning after their performance at the Swedish Music Festival concluded at 12 AM – their first international gig and their first glimmer of hope to desert the UK. However, the victory was short-lived when their car crashed through two motorway barriers, striking the partially opened bridge, and falling 80ft into the ship canal, killing all four members and their manager. Onlookers had been confused at the accident before them, delaying their calls to the emergency services. When they arrived at the scene, the car was found upside down in the canal, and guitarist River Reeves, singer Kris Leonard, and bass guitarist Tomas Lowe were found outside the vehicle.
What happened next?
After their deaths, people worked to ensure their nine-track album was released and it stole the second spot in the Official Charts. Despite the heinous turn of events, the Warrington community had been brought closer together to commemorate the band. School awards were renamed, mixologists created cocktails in their honour, their music frequented The Lounge Bar (where Lowe had received his first bass guitar for his birthday), pictures had been installed, benches were dedicated, and numerous charities formed: after viewing the wreckage, Reeves’s parents established the River Reeves foundation where aspiring musicians could be supported financially and emotionally when chasing their dreams through school courses. This means that other people were given more resources, providing a higher chance to accomplish the path Viola Beach carved.
Their deaths proffered a rare opportunity of a global truce. Not only did the local community band together, but the music industry also followed in conjunction with indie sensations like Liam Gallagher and the Stone Roses speaking on the situation – even Coldplay paid tribute in their Glastonbury performance.
Ironically, the main outcome of their deaths was hope. A charting album. A foundation to help musicians. A festival to inspire next-generation artists. Worldwide recognition. They showed that despite being from an unrecognisable town with limited resources, the fuse of potential was burning brightly, and they could have achieved what people would have thought impossible. They are an inspiration to budding artists who may have been put down in the past for having a so-called ‘pipe dream’, as they proved that anything is possible if you are willing to fight for it.
What makes this band so important compared to others is that they were the first to venture into the wider world and persisted to be proud of their Warringtonian descent. Though their methods were unconventional, they remained true to themselves and proved successful in spite. People should look at what Viola Beach accomplished and use it as a landmark in chasing their dreams.
