The Molotovs Live Review – Waterfront Norwich

8 February 2026 rocknews

The Molotovs Live Review

The Adrian Flux Waterfront, Norwich

The upstairs room at the Waterfront was becoming nicely packed by the time I arrived for a spectacular evening of live music. The small venue only holds 200 people but the buzz in the room meant it felt like there were a lot more in there!
Word of just how good the Molotovs are had spread (and is still spreading) fast, and I was really looking forward to this one!

Lady of Mars Open the Night

We didn’t have to wait long before the first support band Lady of Mars took to the stage, and the young indie band from London got the evening off to a great start. Their energy was fantastic, and they were clearly having a great time. The music was good too. It had a familiarity but sounded fresh with some superb playing. Singer Neve Bowen interacted brilliantly with the audience, who were clearly blown away by the performance. What a start to the night!

Freddy Keach & The Mop Bring Retro Charm

Local band Freddy Keach & The Mop had brought their fan club. As we arrived we saw their parents delivering them food, and so they came on stage well fed. “I want my mum” said Freddy to the queue outside the venue, instantly endearing him to those on their way in. She was easy to find in the venue too – she was the one holding the flowers! I loved that, and so did the crowd, who warmed instantly to Freddy and the band.

They looked fantastic – like they were transported in from the 60s or 70s- and the music was a different vibe, but it complimented what had gone before and what was coming up.

Their musical style is hard to pigeonhole, but they describe themselves as “Mop Hop, Rock and Tumble” – and that pretty much sums it up.

I loved their attitude and the confidence that Freddy himself exuded was incredible. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the near future.

The Molotovs Take Over the Waterfront

What to say of the Molotovs that hasn’t already been said? Except WOW! I knew this was going to be good, but I don’t think anyone was quite prepared for the onslaught of pure energy, adrenaline and talent that Matt and Issey Carltlidge, along with drummer Noah Riley, brought to the stage and that small, packed, sweaty room.

Showcasing their considerable skills as musicians and songwriters and sounding like someone put The Jam, The Clash, Blondie and Buzzcocks in a wardrobe and pushed it down the stairs, they are a breath of fresh air.

We were treated to a non-stop set of songs from debut album ‘Wasted on Youth’ (currently in a chart battle for No.1 with Lily Allen), as well as others from their repertoire and a storming cover of Bowie’s ’Suffragette City’. I particularly enjoyed the title track, ‘Come on Now’ and ‘Get a Life’, but it was hard to pick any favourites as every song hit home.

“Our passion is for getting out around the country, and around the world, playing for audiences new and old” they told the NME recently, and that much is obvious. They connected with the crowd instantly and never let go, both during and in-between songs.

As the crowd filed out into the cold Norwich air, everyone was still buzzing, knowing they had seen something special from a band that are going to be huge – and deservedly so!

The Molotovs have just announced their “Welcome to Urbia” tour of the UK and Ireland for September and October this year, and I for one can’t wait to see them on some bigger stages.