Viola Beach’s posthumous debut album set for number one spot

Viola Beach’s self-titled debut album looks set to enter the charts at number one.

The posthumous record, released following the tragic death of the band and their manager back in February, is currently sitting at the top spot in the midweek charts.

According to the Official Charts Company, Viola Beach is already 6,000 combined sales ahead of last week’s number one All Over the World, by Elo.

The album has been released via the band’s own record label, after a campaign launched by their friends and family.

Martin Talbot of the Official Charts Company said: “Following the terribly tragic events of February, everyone will have been rooting for the Viola Beach album this week, so it’s fantastic news that it is doing so well – I’m sure we will all be keeping our fingers crossed that it can hold on at Number 1.”

Vocalist Kris Leonard, guitarist River Reeves, bassist Tomas Lowe, drummer Jack Dakin and their manager Craig Tarry all lost their lives in a car crash in Sweden on their way back from a festival.

The families of the band have said that the self-titled record is the ‘best way to celebrate’ their sons’ lives.

A statement released by family members reads: “We are tremendously proud of everything the boys achieved in such a short space of time. Craig, Jack, Kris, River and Tom shared a huge passion, talent and dedication to music.

“We believe the best way to celebrate our sons’ lives is to release an album of their songs.

“This is their legacy and we know deep in our hearts that the boys would want the world to listen to the music they poured everything into.

“This was only the beginning for them and these nine songs were written with every intention to be shared, heard and, most of all, enjoyed.”

A number of big-name acts have been vocal in their support for the band, including Coldplay, who performed their track Boys That Sing during their Glastonbury set in June.