Theres something special about a Thursday night in Cardiff, especially at The Tramshed. Thursday 3rd September, the London brother and sister duo, The Molotovs began their ‘Welcome To Urbia’ Tour with Shale supporting. The sold out show just proves the type of night we have all been anticipating for.
Brother and sister duo Matt and Issey Cartlidge formed the band during Lockdown in 2020 under a different name, to busking the streets of London and now having played over 700 shows, the Molotovs have certainly come a long way. Taking inspiration from their father’s record collection, legendary bands such as The Clash to The Sex Pistols have played a significant role in shaping the identity and music of The Molotovs. Having joined the band in 2025, the drummer Noah Riley has quickly become an integral part of the band’s sound.
Opening the night were a five piece band known as Shale, bringing their own blend of alternative rock and grungy music to the Tramshed they delivered a dramatic and atmospheric performance that warmed up the crowd. By the time that their set was over, the room was overflowing, not only with people but with anticipation of what was to come.
The tension before the headliners took to the stage was electrifying, the lights dropped, and out came The Molotovs. Throughout the performance there was an infectious sense of fun, but beneath all the fun was an attitude that had always been central to the band, they embedded some of their most influential heroes through music into their music and giving it a modern yet youthful edge.
The tour celebrates a new moment for the Molotovs, with their second album, Welcome to Urbia, on the horizons. The title track was released just the day after their first tour show in Cardiff, and for those who attended the show had a sneak peak of their song Urbia, and also into the new era which the album foreshadows. Perhaps what is most admirable about the band would be that irrespective of their success, the band delivers time and time again, and also including all those grassroot venues that helped to support their journey.
By the closing stages of the set, the Tramshed was a room full of people united by the same thing, their love for music and their love for The Molotovs. Reflecting on the behaviour and attitude of the crowd during tonights performance, they are becoming a favourite and a band to watch out for. They may have started out by busking in the streets of London, but The Molotovs have and will continue to stand on stages of their own for years to come.
