The Molotovs

With a Top 3 album under their belt and a sold-out tour ahead, The Molotovs are not merely a band to watch: they are the essential rock band of their generation. The Molotovs’ rise may seem sudden, but their journey is not built on viral algorithms—it is built on calloused hands, street gigs and hard work: 600 shows to their name, and counting. The two teenage siblings, Matt (vocals/guitar) and Issey Cartlidge (bass/vocals), accompanied by drummer Noah Riley, have worked their way from the country’s shopping streets to the top of the official charts and prime-time television. In February 2026, the band proved that guitar music was not merely alive but thriving. Their debut album, *Wasted On Youth* (released on Marshall Records), climbed to number three in the charts. During a week dominated by pop heavyweights such as Lily Allen and Olivia Dean, the teenage duo’s success was driven by physical-record sales from a legion of fans won over by their incendiary live shows. The band seized the opportunity, joking on Instagram that they were in a “chart war with a new unsigned band called Lily Allen”—a jibe that earned an encouraging response from Allen herself: “It’s all love, baby. I hope you win the war.” For Matt, this success was the culmination of years on the road: “After setting fire to every dive bar and venue on the circuit, finally releasing *Wasted On Youth* feels electric. We’ve lived these songs on the road… seeing that raw energy captured on record is huge.” The band’s reputation was confirmed by an electrifying performance of “Today’s Gonna Be Our Day” on ITV’s The Jonathan Ross Show, with raw power that reminded viewers of the strength of a live band at the top of its game. This refusal to be sidelined defines their sound: a “chemical blend” of new wave, punk and indie sleaze. Their aesthetic is just as sharp, favoring mod-inspired suits and a visual style that nods to The Jam and the Sex Pistols. It is an approach that attracted the attention of genre legends early on; they have already shared stages with The Libertines, Blondie and Iggy Pop, and even had Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols join them on stage for a performance of “God Save The Queen”. While their chart success is a major milestone, the band remains rooted in the live experience. In September 2026, after a short sold-out arena tour with Yungblud, they will embark on their most ambitious headline tour to date: the UK “Welcome to Urbia” tour. The tour will begin in Cardiff, then visit major cities such as Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham, before ending with two exceptional concerts at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town—the very venue where The Libertines, recognizing kindred spirits in them, invited Matt and Issey to play their first concert under the name “The Molotovs”. For Issey, the mission goes beyond music: she champions a musical “explosion of youth” and rejects “cultural pessimism” and divisions within society. “We want action, not apathy,” she said. “Our passion is connecting with people who love music as much as we do. That love can spark an optimism that is sorely lacking elsewhere in 2026.”