Riotous 15 piece collective The Destroyers have been confirmed to headline The New European Village at The Mayor's Thames Festival on London’s South Bank on Saturday 12th September.

The Thames Festival takes place annually in mid-September.   Activities take place over a weekend on the River Thames, the riverside walkways, roads, bridges, docks and public open spaces from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge and beyond.

The festival is a stunning, free celebration of London and its river and it has become a key highlight in the city's cultural life. The New European Village highlights the rich cultures of countries relatively new to the European Union.  This year the stage will showcase a mixture of traditional and contemporary performers whose music reflects, in some way, the musical style and tradition of their native country while maintaining a contemporary and progressive approach to writing and performing - future folk, Baltic beats and traditional gypsy sounds.

From auspicious beginnings busking at Birmingham's German Market in 2004, The Destroyers are ready to bring to you their turbo-charged sound, a unique hybrid of Balkan/ Klezmer/ Gypsy styles, beat poetry and gothic um-pah.   Close-up and dangerous, their blazing passion for performance and combined musical influences creates a swirling spectacle of sensation and sound.

The Destroyers are fronted by veteran Irish singer-songwriter Paul Murphy, a ranting punk poet and former proprietor of Birmingham's Songwriters' Café.  The band has gradually built up a repertoire of original music, with founding member Louis Robinson and his fellow violinist Leighton Hargreaves making major contributions alongside selections from Murphy's extensive songbook which dates back decades.  

After an extensive UK tour and 5 performances at this year’s Glastonbury festival, their live stage show has captivated audiences at festivals and venues around the country, sweeping them into a frenzy of uninhibited dancing and bonhomie.   Their debut album ‘Out Of Babel’ will be released on 7th September 2009 on Destruction Records.

 “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”
Stereokill.net