The Molotovs performed an explosive headline set at King’s Cross Summer Sounds opening night on Thursday 13 August, marking the return of London’s highly anticipated free music and performance festival.
In partnership with Lightroom’s Bowie Nights, The Molotovs launched King’s Cross Summer Sounds in Coal Drops Yard with support from Ashaine White and Jack Kaye. The show celebrated David Bowie’s impact on music today, with each act including a Bowie cover in their set.
Selling out venues worldwide, The Molotovs have become one of the UK’s hottest young bands. Following a year of relentless touring, their debut album Wasted on Youth reaching Number 3 in the charts, an unforgettable appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show and an arena tour with Yungblud, The Molotovs delivered a standout performance at Summer Sounds 2026.
In September, The Molotovs head out on their Welcome To Urbia UK tour, with a second date added at the O2 Kentish Town Forum on September 26 after the first date sold out. Tickets available now.
As part of their set, the band played their version of the Bowie classic “Suffragette City”, which was released as the B-side of their Top 10 debut single “More More More”.
Issey Cartlidge of The Molotovs said:
“Bowie was a maverick, absolutely unique, always forging his own path and a constant animated surprise to his audience. As an artistic inspiration there are very few like him. There will never be another Bowie and neither should there be. ‘Suffragette City’ was the B-side of our first single and it’s always been the zenith of our live set. It buzzes with frenetic punk energy and is an electric shock to the audience.”
Ashaine White selected “Life On Mars?” for her set, saying:
“Summer Sounds was such a fun show. It’s so much fun to be able to play songs from my new debut album on home turf. Free music shows are vital to the future of creativity, so I’m always honoured to play a small part in one.
“‘Life On Mars?’ is one of Bowie’s most beautiful songs – I think in the current state of the world it still rings true on how it feels for a young artist to watch the world through screens in a mixture of confusion and disappointment, still though, trying to shine some light, provide a voice to speak on issues we face, and have hope in what the future may bring. Bowie inspires artists like me to be ourselves, boldly and proudly!”
The former frontman of The Magic Gang, Jack Kaye performed tracks from his debut EP, Go Easy, including singles “Dora” and “The Weight”, along with Bowie’s “Heroes”.
Kaye said:
“Bowie was uncompromising and unflinching. He wasn’t afraid of failure, which is what made him so great. ‘Heroes’ is undeniably one of the best songs ever written. It was so fun to get a chance to cover it.
“My EP, Go Easy, is out Friday (14th August). Playing it to an outdoor London crowd on a summer evening felt like the perfect way to welcome those songs into the world.”
From now until 23 August, King’s Cross celebrates the return of one of London’s most inclusive free music, dance and performance festivals, showcasing a stellar line-up of acts that seamlessly blends the world’s best folk, jazz, soul, classical and indie rock music.
This year’s Summer Sounds line-up also includes a celebratory showcase marking 35 years of pioneering jazz development charity Tomorrow’s Warriors; Americana with a twist from Little Grandad; indie pop and R&B from Len Blake; and five mass community choirs performing on one day, including London City Voices and West End Musical Choir, with a variety of musical showstoppers and pop mashups.
Further highlights include Queer Britain and Sounds Queer, championing diverse voices and sounds from across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, with performances from Kimmy Beatbox, Dyan Tai, Thandi Phoenix, Arno Sacco and Bessi.
The English Folk Dance & Song Society will also present a showcase featuring global folk from Mishra and progressive instrumental folk from Pons Aelius.
King’s Cross Summer Sounds 2026 Full Programme
View the full King’s Cross Summer Sounds 2026 programme.
Pop Scoop founder and editor. Ex showbiz/tech editor at the Cyprus Mail. Former sub-editor at Archant. Former art director Sky TV. Co-founder of Kool Magazine and freelanced for the BBC, Channel 4, Warner Bros and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.
