WARRINGTON’S Parr Hall will host a special tribute concert to celebrate the lives of tragic band Viola Beach and their manager Craig Tarry who all died in a car crash while on tour in Sweden last month.
Tickets for the concert on Saturday April 2, featuring a line-up of friends and bands they played with, will go on sale at 9am on Friday (March 4) at www.pyramidparrhall.com
It will be hosted by BBC Radio 1’s Phil Taggart and be a celebration of their lives, with all funds raised being donated to their families.
Band members Tomas Lowe, Kris Leonard, River Reeves and Jack Dakin died along with manager Craig Tarry during the early hours of Saturday February 13, shortly after appearing at a music festival in Stockholm.
They were all killed when their car plunged more than 80ft from a highway bridge into a canal.
Mystery still surrounds the cause of the crash as initial reports have shown no trace of drink or drugs in the body of manager Craig, who was believed to have been driving.
Claims have been made about faulty warning lights not working properly at the bridge where the accident took place – but these were dismissed by Swedish authorities. Crucially CCTV footage which could have shown the incident was not saved and auto deleted 24 hours after the accident.
The band had been due to play a sell out gig at the Pyramid on March 12 in front of 250 fans with a further concert scheduled at the Parr Hall later in the year.
Chris Persoglio, venue and events manager at Parr Hall, said: “We were deeply saddened and shocked to hear the news about the passing of Warrington’s Viola Beach and their manager in a tragic road accident in Sweden. Having worked with Craig for many years and with the lads from the band on the Warrington Festival, we’ve been keen to hold a fitting tribute.
“As such, we are working with the team at SJM Concerts to host a night to remember the lads properly and to help raise as much as possible for the families between us. This will be a very special evening and a time for the fans and friends to come together to celebrate the lives and music of the band in the best way we possibly can, in their hometown.”
