The Libertines’ Carl Barat joined the duo on the London stage for a full-circle moment.
Photo: Will Baldwin
One night wasn’t enough for The Molotovs at O2 Forum Kentish Town, so they had to do it twice. Five years after they first took the stage supporting The Libertines in 2021, they returned with a two-night extravaganza, showing the trajectory of the band for what feels to have been a rewarding homecoming. The 2500-capacity venue was filled to the brim, and the crowd were treated to a preview of the future of the UK rock and roll scene.
The show opened with The Cases, a well-dressed quartet who immediately piqued your curiosity with their captivating guitar work. The band from Preston were able to feel at home with the London crowd thanks to their bouncy guitar work, which melded brilliantly with their enthralling choruses. Despite being relatively new to the scene, they performed on stage like veterans. A band with a lot of potential and someone to keep an eye on as they make big strides in the UK scene.
Following them were a band that amalgamated the pure northern feel of indie music. Garage Flower entered the stage with a familiar feel about them, like someone plucked an up-and-coming band from the late ‘90s and transported them into 2026. The Leeds boys seem to pull a lot of inspiration from notorious northern bands like The Stone Roses and Oasis.
The Gallagher-esque vocals and groovy Stone Roses-esque guitar work; it just seemed to all fall in place so well. These guys are undoubtedly talented musicians, and it was very clear why they are climbing the ranks of notoriety despite only forming in 2024.
The Molotovs stepped out next; immediately you knew you were in for something special. A coming of age from where it all began and the perfect measuring stick to show what is to come. The Molotovs, fronted by siblings Matt and Issey Cartlidge, took the stage like pros, as if they had been doing these headline shows for decades, opening up with Johnny Don’t Be Scared.
They then turned up the set from here and never looked back, going into a couple of favourites of mine: Geraldine and Join Us. The siblings are brilliantly backed on drums by Noah Riley, who was the perfect backbone of the performance. Noah really helped with the energy throughout the show, basically acting as the heartbeat keeping everyone in pace.
An artist is only as good as their dedicated fanbase and, with The Molotovs, they have such a wide variety in who they have attracted to their cause. You have people like my dad, who is a massive fan, who are from past generations that experienced The Jam in their pomp, looking at what they see as a band with the drawing power of Paul Weller, mixing in with the youth who may not even know the influence of a band such as The Jam. The ability to reach across generations can not be overstated as such due to their immense relatability. It was really special to see.
The night was concluded with a full-circle special guest: none other than Carl Barat from The Libertines. On an evening showcasing the future of the UK indie scene, it really felt like a passing-of-the-torch moment, with this love letter to British rock on display throughout the evening.
What’s next on the agenda for the rise of The Molotovs? Well, following on from the release of the previous album, Wasted On Youth in January of this year, they have scheduled their second album, Welcome to Urbia, scheduled to be released on April 9th 2027. They also have a support slot at OVO Wembley Arena with Razorlight on December 4th.
The Molotovs train is coming into the station, and it appears it ain’t stopping. I really hope this band continues to build on the momentum from a strong year, following the release of the debut album. As Issey said during the show, “This is not the final destination; this is only a stop along the way.”
