The Molotovs kick off King’s Cross Summer Sounds festival with a steamy blast of indie rock

King’s Cross Summer Sounds got off to an explosive start as The Molotovs brought their high-energy live show to Coal Drops Yard.

The fast-rising trio were the surprise headliners for the opening night of the festival, delivering a lively set of neo-punk that drew heavily from their debut album Wasted on Youth. They also found time for a rousing take on David Bowie’s Suffragette City, a fitting choice given the festival’s setting close to Lightroom, home of the immersive David Bowie: You’re Not Alone experience.

The Molotovs have quickly established themselves as one of the UK’s most talked-about young bands. Fronted by siblings Mathew and Issey Cartlidge, the trio draws heavily on punk and early indie rock. The Libertines, Sex Pistols, Blondie and The Jam are among the influences in the mix.

Their debut album, Wasted on Youth, reached Number 3 in the UK charts. Live, the band rattle through tracks. There’s little standing around, their stage show honed by year’s of relentless gigging. London may have been hot. The band were hotter.

The appearance comes shortly before the band’s Welcome To Urbia UK tour. Demand has already been strong enough to prompt a second date at the O2 Kentish Town Forum on 26 September, following the sell-out of the first show.

Supporting The Molotovs on opening night were Ashaine White and Jack Kaye, formerly of The Magic Gang.

The Molotovs have quickly established themselves as one of the UK’s most talked-about young bands…

King’s Cross Summer Sounds line up

There’s plenty more to come across the festival’s 11-day programme. Running from 13 to 23 August, King’s Cross Summer Sounds is a free festival of music, dance and performance, with programming spanning folk, jazz, soul, classical music and indie rock.

Jazz is represented by a showcase celebrating 35 years of Tomorrow’s Warriors, the pioneering charity that has played an important role in developing young jazz talent. Americana gets its own treatment from Little Grandad, while Len Blake brings together indie pop and R&B.

Community choirs will take over the programme for one day, with London City Voices and West End Musical Choir among five mass ensembles performing musical theatre favourites and pop mashups.  

The festival also has a strong focus on diverse voices. Queer Britain and Sounds Queer will present performances from Kimmy Beatbox, Dyan Tai, Thandi Phoenix, Arno Sacco and Bessi, celebrating music and performance from across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

Folk fans have their own reason to visit, with the English Folk Dance & Song Society showcase bringing together the global folk sounds of Mishra and the progressive instrumental folk of Pons Aelius.

Summer Sounds forms part of King’s Cross’s wider Escape in London summer programme. The idea is to provide a series of free and affordable cultural events that encourage visitors to linger in the neighbourhood. Live music sits alongside the canal, makers’ markets and food venues, making it possible to turn a casual visit into a much longer excursion.

The opening night had the added benefit of a young band with plenty of momentum. If the rest of Summer Sounds follows that lead, King’s Cross should be a lively place to spend an August evening.

King’s Cross Summer Sounds runs from 13 to 23 August and is free to attend. For the full programme line-up click here.