A VIOLA Beach drumkit has been given pride of place at a museum which tells the story and celebrates the history of British music.

Jack Dakin’s drum kit has been loaned to the British Music Experience in Liverpool as a symbol of the Warrington band’s ‘love of their craft and a symbol of their pending superstardom’.

Viola Beach formed in 2013 and the final line-up consisted of frontman Kris Leonard, guitarist River Reeves, bassist Tomas Lowe and drummer Jack Dakin along with Woolston manager Craig Tarry.

With appearances at places such the world-famous Cavern Club and Reading and Leeds Festival under their belt, they were poised for a breakthrough.

And they had numerous high profile gigs booked in, including two hometown shows at the Pyramid and Parr Hall, a gig at Sound City in Liverpool, a slot at Glastonbury and even a gig at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

Viola Beach’s future successes were cut short on February 13, 2016, when all four band members and their manager died in a car accident following Viola Beach’s appearance at Where’s the Music Festival in Sweden.

To mark their brief but momentous impact on music, Jack Dakin’s family has loaned the British Music Experience his Gretsch Broadkaster drumkit that he tragically never had the chance to play.

In a statement the family said: “On November 2, 2015, Jack, his sister Loren, his dad Ian and dad’s partner Bev went drum shopping at the Manchester Drum Centre in Trafford and Jack tried out every percussion instrument on display, including bongo drums, cow bells and tambourines.

“Jack fell in love straight away with the classic retro style and sound given from the Gretsch Broadkaster drum kit.

“On November 11, 2015, Jack, his dad and his friend returned to the Manchester Drum Centre and they purchased the full kit. The drum kit was custom built in the USA and unfortunately arrived after the accident.”

The Dakin family hope that publicly displaying Jack’s drumkit inspires other budding musicians to believe that their dreams and ambitions are possible with ‘a lot of hard work, tears, determination, patience, luck and skill’.

Also on display is a painting of Jack by artist Kitsada Jittisak.

Kevin McManus, head of UNESCO City of Music for Liverpool, added: “The tragic and untimely death of Viola Beach and their manager touched every musician and music fan across the country, but none more so than in Warrington and Merseyside.

“This was the area where they had played a lot of gigs, had a loyal fan base and where they were already being talked about as a band to watch.

“The much anticipated show at Sound City would have been their biggest north west show to date and who knows what they could have gone on to achieve.

“Given the band’s close relationship with Liverpool it is fitting that the Dakin family have chosen to loan Jack’s drumkit to the British Music Experience where it now sits alongside exhibits from some of the UK’s most famous names in rock and pop music.

“At this fabulous museum the drum kit can now be seen by visitors from all around the world, ensuring that the name and music of Viola Beach lives on.”

Since the tragedy, Jack Dakin, Tomas Lowe, Kris Leonard, River Reeves and manager Craig Tarry, have received plaudits from industry greats such as Liam Gallagher and The Stone Roses.

A high profile tribute celebration was also held at Parr Hall with the likes of Blossoms, Courteeners, The Coral, The Zutons and The Kooks performing.

The band’s posthumous self-titled debut album went on to top the charts while Coldplay’s cover of Boys That Sing created Viola Beach’s ‘alternate future’ allowing them to ‘headline’ Glastonbury in 2016.

Registered charity, the British Music Experience opened in the Cunard Building in 2017.

It explores British pop from 1945 to present day with a vast collection of stage outfits, objects and instruments from the music world.

DAVID MORGAN