ONE of the world's biggest bands created an alternate future for Viola Beach on Sunday when the Warrington band 'headlined' Glastonbury.
Coldplay invited the families of Kris Leonard, Jack Dakin, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and manager Craig Tarry to the award-winning festival as the band covered Boys That Sing.
Chris Martin said he wanted to pay tribute to the boys who died in a tragic crash in Sweden in February.
Here are all the pictures and feedback from the family after the incredible weekend.
Ben Dunne, River Reeves' dad
"The whole thing was like a dream but we also felt that Coldplay did it so tastefully.
"Chris seemed genuinely moved by what happened to the boys. It felt like
River was looking down on us with a big smile on his face.
“There were mixed emotions as we all reckoned they would headline Glaston-
bury one day.”
Sarah Tarry, Craig Tarry’s sister
“It was a bittersweet experience. Craig always knew that Viola Beach would
be headlining Glastonbury one day, and their dreams came true.
"We cannot thank Coldplay and their team enough for what they did for the
families. The day consisted of music, mud, rain, tears, celeb spotting and
most importantly laughter.
“The mud and rain didn’t put a downer to the day, it was part of the famous
Glastonbury experience.
“Seeing Coldplay play along with Viola Beach on stage will be remembered
forever, it was overwhelming seeing and hearing the crowd sing along.
“We are so proud of Craig, Kris, Jack, River and Tom, we know that they were there with us."
Joanne Dakin, Jack Dakin's mum
"Coldplay did an amazing thing for the boys and their families. Obviously we
are all heartbroken and would have rather have waited for the event to
happen naturally.
"However the boys looked right at home on the Pyramid stage and really
rocked Glastonbury.
"Dreams can come true."
Matt Lowe, Tomas Lowe's brother
“I can understand why there is just a magical feel about the place and we
went to some of the hangouts he and his friends would go to.
“The tribute that Coldplay did was unbelievable and seeing Tom and the
boys up there on the Pyramid stage in the headline Sunday slot was very
bittersweet as one day it could have been them.
“It also made me feel very proud of what they have achieved and for
arguably the world’s biggest band to be paying tribute to them is beyond
belief.
“I honestly didn’t expect the reaction it has had, not only seeing all the crowd
singing and dancing along but the reaction on social media.
“The whole day was just mind-blowing from experiencing Glastonbury to
being in the same room and meeting the likes of Coldplay, Noel Gallagher,
Barry Gibb and Gwyneth Paltrow.
"I could hear Tom’s voice, laughing at me and calling me a geek for how
starstruck I was.”
Rebecca Lowe, Tomas Lowe's sister
“It was a day of mixed emotions. On one hand it was an amazing experience
to go to Glastonbury and to see Viola Beach ‘play’ on the Pyramid stage.
“On the other hand it was sad that they were not actually there playing on
stage, but we are extremely grateful to Coldplay for the tribute they did for
Viola Beach and Craig."
Fin Reeves, River Reeves' brother
“It was possibly the most special experience of my life.
"I cannot describe what it felt like to be stood up in front of tens of thousands
of people, surrounded by my family, while my brother was on the big screens
at the Pyramid stage doing what he did best with his best friends
and bandmates and the biggest band in the world playing along with them.
"Just wow. Thank you Coldplay.”
Stella Judson, River Reeves' sister
“Since the accident nothing is normal anymore, without River our lives will
never be the same and on top of our grief there has been this whirlwind of
activity which has rightly led to Viola Beach being recognised as the
fantastic talent they were.
“It’s not until you sit back and think, did that just happen, that you realise
you have been part of something remarkable.
“Glastonbury was incredible, I know we would have been watching River and
the boys on stage at Glastonbury soon and Chris and the band gave us that
alternative future.
"We have been robbed of so much, but with this amazing gesture from
Coldplay we weren’t robbed of seeing them headline the Pyramid stage,
where they belong.”
Molly Reeves, River Reeves' sister
“It was the most insane day of my life. Bittersweet, of course
because it should have been River there, not me.
We are very appreciative of Coldplay’s heart-felt performance, it meant a lot.”
Gabriel Reeves, River Reeves' brother
“The tribute is too emotional and intense to describe but I couldn’t be more
grateful to Coldplay for showing the level of respect they did.
“They were the band who me and my brothers always listened to together
since we were as young as I can remember.
“I feel that with a tribute as strong and meaningful as what we saw last
night, Viola Beach can continue to be an inspiration to young musicians.”
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