Unapologetically complex and joyful; the explosive and virtuosic klezmer, folk, Balkan behemoth from Brum




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About The Destroyers

Unapologetically complex and joyful, The Destroyers have been colliding world musics for nearly 20 years. Their behemothic sound is a chaotic cacophony of klezmer, Balkan and British folk. With twelve truly exceptional musicians from Birmingham their explosive and virtuosic live show needs to be seen to be believed.

Faustian fiddles, whirlwinds of woodwinds, braying brass, raucousness from the rhythm section, and salvos from the sousaphone destroy inhibitions and leave audiences bewildered, transported, beguiled, and wild. These tenacious, travelling troubadours have liberated ears, hearts, and minds at…

The Commonwealth Games - BBC One | Glastonbury | WOMAD | Boomtown Fair | Secret Garden Party | Fire in the Mountain | Shambala | Cambridge Folk Festival | Gate to Southwell | Underneath the Stars | Nozstock Hidden Valley | Knockengorroch | Sidmouth Folk Week | Buskers Bern (SW) | Penabilli (IT) | Waterford Spraoi (IE), and many, many more.

FFO: Golgol Bordello, Balkan Beatbox, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Tankus The Henge, Edward II, Fairport Convention, Sheelanagig, Ara Malikian, The Rin Tins, Bellowhead, 3 Daft Monkeys.

Also featured on Sky Arts TV, and plays on BBC One, BBC Radio 2, 3, and 6 Music.

(EPK, tech spec, media downloads, high-res photos)
That this onlooker found himself singing along to the words of tracks despite hearing them for the first time is testament to the band’s magnificent live show, full of inventiveness and recalling the protest spirt of a quarter of a century ago.
nightshiftmag.co.uk | Rob Langham
And so, out of the inane cavalcade of Balkan Gypsy sound-alikes comes a blow-your-mind original... Minimum pretence and maximum style: Out Of Babel is a sophisticated tour de force.
Songlines | Lemez Lovas
The sort of rogues who would take you out for a night, fill you full of mead, strip you to your underwear and then tie you to a lamp-post.
BBC 6Music | Steve Lamacq
Stomping leads and chilling strings set a sinister tone for the record; its shady upbeat vibe raises an eyebrow to a Latin influence before elbowing its traditional Irish music influence, meaning this is a seductively dangerous and unique listen.
Clash Magazine | Anna Meacham
I can give you a simple truth: The Destroyers could well be the best band you hear this year. Without a doubt, they’re certainly one of the most interesting acts the UK has seen in a long time. Go out and buy this album. You won’t regret it.
stereokill.net | Marcus Kernohan
Rarely does an album come along that can be called unique; not just in its style, instrumentation and lyrics, but with a force that almost defies description. 'Out Of Babel' is one. From Paul Murphy's deep, resonant monotone on the opening 'Utopia Bypass', you know this is not going to be any run-of-the-mill album. And boy, it isn't.
allgigs.co.uk | Alex Litton
Grab the album whenever it comes out and see them live the first chance you get...
musoguide.com | Kenny McMurtrie
The Destroyers have a hell of a billing from the compere but more than live up to it-they truly are 'insane', 'chaotic' and 'absolutely menkle', but then can a 15-piece polka orchestra led by a short grandad in a fez who talks like a pirate be anything else?
Glastonbury Review Special | Q Magazine
The Destroyers’ sound is so wildly compulsive that the entire crowd quickly succumbed, and the entire room became a blur of motion and sound, the wooden floor creaking in time to the frenzied strings and wailing brass... The Destroyers are touring the country... and you owe it to the primal, uninhibited part of yourself to experience the frenetic glory of their live show.
stereokill.net | Marcus Kernohan
A 15-piece outfit of exceptional technical quality which plays a rich blend of Balkan folk music, jazz, Celtic and other influences.
The Birmingham Post | Terry Grimley
The euphoric audience gave the show a huge standing ovation and who could not fail to be lifted by the show? The Destroyers are utterly contemporary and cutting edge and almost frightening in their creativity, but they manage to balance this with being totally accessible and appealing to the masses.
Night-Times
Not to be confused with any other band called the Destroyers, these are the current hot bulgars! Don’t be afraid, check them out and have a good time.
Fly Global Music | Gerry Hectic
Brilliant gypsy jazz mentalism, certainly one of the finest midlands groups playing today.
The Metro

Aaron Diaz

| Tuba

Aaron Diaz

Tuba

Like the rest of us, Aaron's face is made of skin, sinew, muscle and bone. It is purely happenstance that in …

Dan Wilkins

| Electric Guitar

Dan Wilkins

Electric Guitar

Dan is as much at home playing the washboard in an old south style as he is at Tuvan throat singing and making his own …

Jamie Fekete

| Guitar, Mandolin

Jamie Fekete

Guitar, Mandolin

Jamie dresses smartly, stays sober after gigs to drive the minibus home, and usually wins when he plays chess with …

Katie Stevens

| Clarinet

Katie Stevens

Clarinet

Katie is a great believer in the natural healing properties of the clarinet. (Gently boil with a spoon of rosehip oil …

Max Gittings

| Flutes, Whistles, Duduk, Hulusi

Max Gittings

Flutes, Whistles, Duduk, Hulusi

Max really loves folk music. I mean, I love folk music. We all love folk music. But Max REALLY loves it. A lot.

He …

Nick Jurd

| Bass

Nick Jurd

Bass

According to Nick, wisdom and foolishness are "kind of the same thing, really".

Does this mean Nick is wise? Or …

Pete Churchill

| Accordion

Pete Churchill

Accordion

Pete is currently heartbroken because his beautiful new accordion was cruelly stolen from him. He did leave it on his …

Rob Spalton

| Trumpet

Rob Spalton

Trumpet

Rob, our clever, cunning and incredible clairvoyant, is the 2019 tiddlywink world champion, and is rather fond of …

Sam Woo

| Trumpet

Sam Woo

Trumpet

Verily, Samuel Wooster is a man of contrasts. His tattoed exterior belies a kind, sensitive underbelly, as revealed …

Sarah Farmer

| Fiddle

Sarah Farmer

Fiddle

Sarah plays the violin.

Seth Bye

| Fiddle

Seth Bye

Fiddle

Seth is the youngster of the Destroyers pack and was raised in the forest by a herd of fiddle bows. They all lived in a …

Tim Bowes

| Drums

Tim Bowes

Drums

Tim likes strong cheese. In fact, when he is not playing the drums with us, he participates in a competitive endurance …

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