The Molotovs Live at The Foundry 2026 Gallery

London’s rock ’n’ roll sibling duo The Molotovs, Matt and Issey Cartlidge, returned to Sheffield on Saturday 12th September 2026 as part of their Welcome to Urbia UK 2026 tour. Playing to a sold-out crowd at Sheffield’s The Foundry, the band delivered a high-energy performance that showcased just how much they have grown since I last saw them live earlier this year at Hallamshire Hotel, highlighting the band’s evident rise in popularity following the release of their widely successful debut album, Wasted on Youth.

Hailing from Preston, opening the show was impressive indie four-piece The Cases, who set the tone for the night with their energetic performance and catchy tunes, most of which being from their EP Mr Penny. The band had a great early 2000s indie band sound about them, and I can imagine them going down a treat with fans of the likes of Oasis, The Smiths and The K’s.

The Molotovs kicked off their set with explosive energy, commanding the stage with confidence you can only gain from playing over 600 gigs. The siblings’ stage presence is unmatched; they bring impressive dynamism to their performance, which makes it impossible to look away. There’s a reason I am such a big fan of the duo as a photographer: Issey expressively struts across the entire stage with her bass, while Matt throws himself into the performance, even physically launching into the air as he shreds his guitar. The electric energy bounced from the stage through to the packed out crowd, consisting of both youngsters and an older crowd sporting mod-inspired attire.

The setlist included bangers from their debut album such as ‘Today’s Gonna Be Our Day’, and ‘More, More, More’, while the crowd were also introduced to a couple of unreleased songs from their upcoming album. Nearer the end of the set, Matt emerged solo onto the stage beneath a spotlight to serenade the crowd with a couple of acoustic songs, which was a lovely change of pace from their usual up-tempo tunes.

Up next for the Molotovs is another large-scale support slot on tour, this time with Razorlight, which kicks off on the 26th of November at Glasgow’s O2 Academy. The band have recently announced their much anticipated sophomore album Welcome to Urbia, which will be available on April 9th 2027. From the intimate Hallamshire Hotel to a sold-out Foundry, the rapid rise of The Molotovs has proved they’re more than ready for whatever comes next.

Words and images by Emilia Fennell.