Viola Beach’s debut album ‘Viola Beach’ will be released on rainbow vinyl this autumn to celebrate its fifth anniversary.
The album was released back in 2016, just five months after the band Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe, Jack Dakin and their manager, Craig Tarry, tragically died following a car accident in Sweden.
The band’s debut album ‘Viola Beach’ will now be released, for the first time, on Vinyl. The Vinyl will be on a rainbow picture disc, an homage to an iconic photograph of the band holding rainbow umbrellas, and will be released 22 October 2021 via the band’s label Fuller beans record.
The family of Viola Beach have commented on the anniversary vinyl’s release. Lead singer Kris Leonard’s mum, said: “I would like to thank SJM and other organisations for the continued support we as families have received. I am very proud that the Boys album will be released on Vinyl. I’m sure Kristian would have been too. Kris and the boys’ lives will continue through their music.”
Tomas Lowe’s family added: “The family of Tom would like to thank everyone at SJM & Communion Records who have made this re-release possible and to everybody out there who has listened to their music over the past 5 years. As a family we are immensely proud of Tom and the re-release of the albums is a lasting tribute to the boy’s passion, music and friendship.” On behalf of River Reeve’s family, Ben and Sharon Dunne said: “Our most precious memories are of River making music and performing. We want the world to know that through the music, River, along with his bandmates and manager, will continue to live on in all our lives.”
Last February, to mark the fifth anniversary of the band and their manager’s tragic death, a number of artists from their hometown Warrington collaborated for a cover of the band’s debut single ‘Swings and Waterslides.’ The editor of Warrington’s local music magazine, WAM, Lee Harman said: “We should have seen Viola Beach headlining the biggest festivals five years on but despite the pain and sadness getting easier every year, they put Warrington on the map, and we want to show they’re still an important part of the town’s culture.”
On 13 February 2016, all four band members and their manager died in a freak accident on a lift bridge in a town near Stockholm, Sweden. After playing at Where’s The Music? Festival in Norrkoping, the band’s vehicle fell through a gap in the lift bridge as it was being lifted to let an oil tanker pass. Their self-titled album ‘Viola Beach’ reached UK Number 1 the following August.
Viola Beach anniversary Vinyl rainbow edition is available to pre-order now and will be released on 22 October 2021.
Track List
Side A
Swings and Waterslides
Like a Fool
Go Outside
Cherry Vimto
Drunk
Side B
Really Wanna Call
Call You Up
Get To Dancing
Boys That Sing
