This was always going to be a fine balancing act. How do you remember the most unspeakable tragedy of five young lives cut short in their prime and yet still celebrate their talents and achievements? How do you balance joy and tragedy? It has been done before, at Live Aid for example, or in that exquisitely crafted episode of the Royle Family where nana, played by Liz Smith, dies. Well I have to tell you that the families and friends of Viola Beach, along with the town of Warrington and the indie music community pulled it off to perfection at Parr Hall last night. It was an absolute privilege and honour to witness. Tears flowed as rivers through a multi-coloured rain forest of joy and laughter and celebration.

Here is my series of brief snapshot moments from the night. I have provided links to other, more detailed articles at the end.

The standout moment was obviously the Viola Beach set. It was so different to other nights on the tour where the audio recording of their Leamington Spa set was all that was played. Tonight took “being moved” to a different plane, causing you to laugh, rejoice and fill up in equal measure. Here in Warrington the stage was filled by family members, whose bravery I can’t even begin to imagine. They started by singing Day Man, the song that Viola Beach used to warm up to before they went on stage. You could quite easily picture them as the characters of Always Sunny in Philadelphia, although who would have been the Danny Devito character? Craig?

Then they spent the next twenty five minutes dancing, jumping, clapping and cheering on the stage in sheer exuberance inspired by love. This was a total love fest played out with the most amazing levels of unabated enthusiasm. The families invited the audience to a celebration of their boys’ lives. We went there willingly, as did their musician peers, who ventured tentatively onto the stage in the second part of the video, possibly feeling that they were intruding. These last six weeks have been incredibly hard for them too and they have handled the loss of their friends with the utmost respect and dignity.

As the songs played, video footage was mixed with stills, showing Viola back stage, in the tour van, on stage, doing what a band does, but more importantly doing what a group of mates does. Regular cheers went up when certain pictures were shown, with equal adulation shown for Craig Tarry (manager) as for the four band members. The dancing refused to let up throughout, and indeed went on well after the video concluded. People hugged each other. It was hard for the families to leave the stage as there was so much togetherness and love emanating from the whole of Parr Hall. For me what was really poignant and uncanny at the same time was seeing on stage people who resembled so closely the band. Brothers, sisters and cousins do look alike after all so I shouldn’t have been surprised, but you could easily tell who was related to whom.

There was one thing that had to be done on the night. I had spent a while talking to the band in Belfast the week before the tragedy and had joked with them about their merchandise. (see RIP Viola Beach   http://www.cre8ivation.com/?p=5447) I told them that their tee shirts were rubbish and that I would buy the Vryll Society one instead. I laughingly conceded that I might relent later in the tour and buy theirs too. We agreed to meet up for a drink in Manchester. It never happened of course but I knew that it was time, in Warrington, to buy that tee shirt. I wore it today with pride in their memory while walking round Liverpool.

 

I wasn’t the only one with the eye-catching black and white tee shirt with the two framed palm trees. They were everywhere. In addition, lots of people had taken up the beach party theme. It didn’t bother me in the slightest that I, along with nearly everyone else there, felt one of the inflatable beach balls go skidding off my head, and not just on one occasion. There were inflatable guitars, colourful beach umbrellas, pointed party hats, bright wigs. What else would you have at a celebration for a band with the word “beach” in its title?

Hidden Charms were managed by Craig Tarry too

Music really played second fiddle to the occasion, however, all the bands played slick sets, making regular reference to Viola between songs. There were several moments which will stick in memories for years to come. As Eliza and the Bear sang their song Friends and repeated the hook “I got friends, I’ve got family here” the Viola Beach sign turned pale blue and you couldn’t help but think that it might easily have been the band looking down from heaven above with a cheeky smile and glint in their eye as the assembled throng sang along. Equally, their grieving relatives might take comfort that so many “friends and family” were here with them, and for them, tonight.

Just as poignant was the dedication of the Courteener’s last song to Viola Beach. Liam Fray declared that it would never be played again without thinking of those young men, cut short in their prime.

“This love will last for ever and ever and ever, here come the young men.”

All the acts did Viola Beach proud: the Psyblings, the Strawberries, the Vryll Society, Hidden Charms, Eliza and the Bear, the Zutons, Blossoms, the Kooks, the Courteeners, the Coral.

Blossoms played a special acoustic set in memory of their friends.

It was a perfect mix of friends, contemporaries and influences.

The Vryll Society were on the Blossoms tour with the band.

 

The Kooks were a big influence on Viola Beach.

The families who got up on stage did the band proud, driving out the grief and replaying the good times. The town of Warrington did its sons proud.

There are some musical events and festivals that transcend music and where the occasion outweighs everything. This was one of them but the music is what helps them get to that place. The music is there, it helps to bond people together; it provides a focal point for the emotions; at times it distracts, and then comes along with a comforting arm to be with you in your grief and to provide healing balm. Tonight, indie music arrived in all its finery and provided the perfect backdrop that created a sense of euphoric celebration in the midst of gut-wrenching tragedy.

“I got friends, I’ve got family here” (Eliza and the Bear)

 

For other related articles please see:

http://news.sky.com/story/1671762/stars-play-at-viola-beach-tribute-concert

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-35951083

http://www.nme.com/news/viola-beach/92700

http://www.eventhestars.co.uk/2016/04/viola-beach-craig-tarry-tribute.html#more