OMAGH-born BBC Radio 1 presenter Phil Taggart joined tributes last night to indie band Viola Beach following their deaths in a road tragedy in Sweden.
The quartet had performed in Belfast last week as support to fellow English band Blossoms at The Limelight.
Mr Taggart (29), whose Sunday night show promotes new and up-and-coming acts, took to Twitter to express his shock at the sudden deaths of band members Jack Dakin, Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe as well as their manager Craig Tarry after their car plunged from a bridge into a canal.
"Completely speechless," he wrote.
"Not just a band on the cusp of something great but young lads with their whole lives ahead. RIP Craig and Viola Beach."
A staff member who worked on the Belfast gig described the band as "so polite and sound" and a "great bunch of lads".
Before breaking into broadcasting via the community radio station Strule FM, Mr Taggart was formerly the bass player in Belfast band Colenso Parade.
He presented Radio 1's Introducing in Northern Ireland programme and last year the Introducing platform gave Viola Beach their first national airplay.
Viola Beach were also one of Dublin-born Radio 1 presenter Annie Mac's 'New Names' for 2016.
Completely speechless. Not just a band on the cusp of something great but young lads with their whole lives ahead. RIP Craig and Viola Beach
— Phil Taggart (@philytaggart) February 14, 2016
"Such unfathomable news about Viola Beach," she tweeted yesterday.
"A hugely talented young band at the start of their career. My heart goes out to their families."
