Sound City returns to Liverpool this bank holiday weekend, on the 2nd and 3rd May throughout the city centre!
The festival is renowned for providing early platforms for some of the UK’s most promising up and coming music talent.
And one of the most eagerly anticipated sets of the weekend in 2026 will come from none other than The Molotovs!
Riding the momentum of a breakout debut album and a relentless touring schedule, The Molotovs are quickly becoming one of the UK’s most talked-about guitar bands.
We caught up with brother and sister, Matt & Issey from the band, ahead of their landmark performance on The Jonathan Ross Show earlier this year, to discuss their rise, what to expect from the set at Sound City, and plenty more.
NC: It feels like there’s only one place to start — the year you’ve had so far. The debut album, the rise… what’s it like being in the band right now?
Matt: “It’s exciting, honestly. Just great fun. Touring, playing bigger venues, we’ve just come off recording Jonathan Ross, playing massive venues like Kentish Town Forum, playing arenas with Yungblud. I don’t see how anyone wouldn’t enjoy it.”
Issey: “The album felt like a real statement of intent. We did 36 gigs in 36 days, all over the country, including smaller towns that are often neglected. And people showed up, sold-out shows, great reactions. It proves people are still hungry for guitar music and are picking up what we’re putting down. Now we’re just pushing forward and already thinking about the next record.”
NC: How have you dealt with the increased attention?
Matt: “I don’t think it’s been that overnight. It’s more gradual. The milestones like the album, big tours, those kinds of things get people talking. This grabs more attention.”
Issey “Yeah, we still feel like the same band. The reasons we make music haven’t changed. It’s just that the opportunities are bigger now, more people are hearing about us. That means we can realise our vision more concretely with the next record.”
NC: Tell me about the brother-sister dynamic. What’s it like being family in a band?
Issey: “We’re kind of dressed like opposites today with blue and red, but it is a bit fire and ice a lot of the time! Obviously it works, we’ve been doing this for years and we’re still here. The biggest advantage is we can be brutally honest to each other and set standards high.”
Matt: “We share our opinions and neither of us complains basically!”
NC: Your image is distinct and something people really notice. How important is that to the band?
Matt: “It’s important, but it’s natural. We just like clothes, we like style, with a lot of ‘60s influence, some new wave and new romantic stuff. I’m always happy to to be inspired by my heroes, whether that’s how they play or how they dress. That’s bound to come through into what I do.”
Issey: “We’ve always wanted to stand out. We’re not afraid to make an impact. A lot of bands are more understated at the moment, but we’d rather be a bit more vibrant.”
NC: You draw from older influences, both musically and in terms of style, but it still feels fresh. How do you balance that?
Matt: “Well… we are fresh. I’m only 18. We haven’t been around too long and just getting started.”
Issey: “We’ve got decades of British pop to draw from — ‘60s, ‘70s, punk, power pop. It all melts together into something new.”
NC: Let’s talk about Sound City in Liverpool. How important are festivals like that as stepping stones for bands like yourselves?
Issey: “They’re vital. Especially for grassroots scenes outside London. Looking at the lineup we’re huge fans of Jalen Ngonda, KEO, The Dream Machine, Keyside and so many more. The organisers have their fingers on the pulse and they clearly care about grassroots music. It’s vital that these festivals keep going. We can’t be London centric. Liverpool obviously has a huge music history and I absolutely love visiting the city. And this helps to generate a buzz around the new music scene there.”
NC: Have you played Liverpool much before?
Matt: “Yeah loads, we’ve done The Jacaranda, The Cavern twice, and we’re playing the Arts Club this year We did a bit of busking in Liverpool too.”
NC: You’ve packed a lot of shows in already, do you feel like all that graft is paying off now?
Matt: “It all amounts to where we are now, definitely. But it’s not like we’ve “made it” yet. We’re still working towards our goals.”
Issey: “We’ve done it the hard way, an alternative route. But gig by gig it’s been a fun slog, building a loyal following. Even if there was just one person in the room who got it, that mattered. So some people who saw us five years ago are still coming regularly to our shows now.”
NC: I heard you’ve had some support from Paul Weller too?
Matt: “Yeah, he invited us to his studio and gave us some advice when we met him. He’s definitely shown some interest in us, which is mad considering how much his music’s influenced us. It’s huge. His songs have guided me a lot as a writer.”
NC: For people seeing you at Sound City, what can they expect from the live show?
Issey: “High octane performance. Nothing left in the dressing room.”
Matt: “And a really good looking lead singer!”
NC: Finally, what’s next after Sound City?
Issey: “We’ve got a big September tour, our most ambitious yet. All over the UK.”
Matt: “When we’re not gigging, we don’t really know what to do with ourselves. So yeah, more shows.”
Liverpool Sound City festival returns THIS WEEKEND (2nd and 3rd May) in the city centre, headlined by KEO and Jalen Ngonda. Head to Sound City Festival — Sound City for more information.
Main Photo Credit: Derek Bremner
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