By Chloe McLelland
As if they had been waiting all day to blow the place apart, The Molotovs took the stage in Glasgow, supporting Yungblud on tour. The sibling duo wasted no time, kicking straight into Urbia, and it immediately cut through as loud, fast, and reckless in the best way.
They kept the pace going with hits including Newsflash and More More More, barely pausing between songs, like they were trying to cram as much energy as possible into a short set and it worked. Even those who clearly hadn’t heard of them before started enjoying themselves.
Live, the songs feel sharper than they do on record. Come On Now had a real bounce to it, and Wasted on Youth felt bigger and heavier, especially with the bass carrying so much of the sound.
It was impossible to overlook Matt Cartlidge, who was always on the move and rarely ever stopped to breathe it seemed. It felt more natural than your typical stage presence in the polished “rock frontman” sense – it was as if he was physically unable to stay still because he felt the music so much. His sister Issey Cartlidge locked the sound in and placed everything with a heavier, more steady energy to prevent the whole thing from going off course.
What really stood out was how quickly they got the crowd on their side. Early on, people were still drifting in, chatting and grabbing drinks but by the middle of the set they had grabbed the audience’s attention. By the end, they’d clearly won over the room – which definitely isn’t easy as a support act when everyone’s there for the main performer.
For a support act, they did everything right, they made noise, they made an impression, and they left people remembering their songs on the way out.
The Molotovs are due to return to Glasgow later this year for their milestone headline tour, where they will perform at the SWG3 TV Studio on the 10th of September, before making their way around the rest of the UK in cities such as London, Manchester and Leeds. Tickets available here.
Photography Copyright 2026 © Kyle Horne/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Text Copyright 2026 © Chloe McLelland/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Alisha Lawton 
Kelsey McAndrew 
Jack Walsh