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Upstart British rock band Viola Beach killed in car accident in Sweden

All four members and the manager of young British rock band Viola Beach were killed in a car accident in Sweden early Saturday morning. The Warrington indie band, which formed in 2015 and were set to make their US debut at South-by-Southwest next month, played Swedish music festival Where is the Music? on Friday, and were en route back to the United Kingdom for a Saturday night gig.

According to reports, the accident happened in the city of Sodertalje, just outside Stockholm, where Viola Beach’s car plunged more than 80 feet from a highway bridge into a canal. Among those killed were band members Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin, as well as manager Craig Tarry.

“We can confirm that five British nationals died in a car accident in Sweden on February 13,” says the UK Foreign Office. “We are in contact with local authorities and supporting the families at this very difficult time.”

Next month in Austin, Viola Beach were set to perform at a “BBC Introducing” showcase, and have recently shared stages with the Courteeners and Blossoms. The band’s debut single, “Swings & Waterslides”, dropped last summer, and their track “Boys That Sing” was featured in the Communion Singles Club. Last year, they performed at the Reading And Leeds festivals in the UK.

Viola Beach were “incredibly promising”, according to BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, via the BBC. Annie Mac called Viola Beach “a hugely talented young band at the start of their career”.

“Absolutely devastated for the loss of Viola Beach and Craig Tarry,” tweeted Blossoms. “Our thoughts are with their friends and families.”

Here are some other tributes via Twitter…

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