Two-day event will feature guitar-driven indie acts
The Molotovs, who will be headlining at the Sound Factory Festival at the Depo(Image: Submitted)
One of the UK’s hottest new bands is to headline at a guitar-driven Plymouth music festival this summer.
Mod group The Molotovs will top the bill on the second night of what is being described as the largest indoor indie rock festival Plymouth has ever seen.
The three-piece combo, which features brother and sister Mathew (guitar, vocals) and Issey Cartlidge (bass vocals) alongside drummer Will “Ice” Fooks, will headline the Sound Factory Festival, at The Depo in Union Street, on Saturday, July 11.
The group has just hit number one in the UK album download chart with Wasted on Youth, ahead of such names as Kula Shaker and Cast.
The opening night of the festival – Friday, July 10 – will be headlined by Mercury nominated Kyle Falconer, former frontman of The View.
He will be supported by The Bracknall, Colour TV, The Slates and The Rhodes. A Sound Magazine stage will feature Die Twice, Boss Cass, Roman and the Ragdolls.
Issy Cartlidge of the Molotovs(Image: Submitted)
A BBC Introducing stage will showcase Tom Hannigan, Sandshifter, and Essy Sparrow.
The Molotovs will be supported by The Velvet Hands, Tom A Smith, Lock-In, Eighty Eight Miles and Haytor.
Martha Fay, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, The Kabins, Halfcut and Rattrap will play the Sound Magazine stage on the Saturday.
And Andy Quick, Kate Hall, Plymouth’s Cat Rose and Kitty Crocker will be on the BBC Introducing stage.
DJ Dan Pascoe will perform during the day and DJ Sanny Bowden at the afterparty.
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Rock ‘n’ roll promoters Sound Factory and This Feeling said they are proud to be bringing “a high-octane array of leading guitar bands and next wave talents” to The Depo.
They said the event will also bring school, college and university students from around Plymouth, to view some of the music students Sound Factory Schools, the company’s educational sector, has taught this year, during the daytime on July 10.
The festival will open to the public on Friday from 5pm and from 4pm on Saturday.
Tom A Smith at Plymouth Summer Sessions(Image: William Telford/PlymouthLive)
While in The View, Falconer, scored a UK number one debut album with Hats Off to the Buskers in 2007 and a top five single with Same Jeans
The long players: Which Bitch? (2009), Bread and Circuses (2011) and 2012’s Cheeky for a Reason, were also popular and The Strokes’ Albert Hammond produced their fifth album, Ropewalk. Coming off a five-year hiatus, the View returned to the top 10 with 2023’s Exorcism of Youth.
Falconer’s solo career was also a success, winning the prestigious King Tut’s Songwriting Award in 2024 and a best album honour for his debut solo effort No Thank You in 2019.
The Molotovs have been a draw on the live circuit, garnering attention from fans and press for their explosive performances.
A festival spokesperson said: “ Still in their teens and having played over 500 gigs, they have already shared stages with the likes of the Sex Pistols and The Libertines and been shouted out by punk legends Green Day, with The Telegraph highlighting them as one of the rising stars who could share the stage with Oasis.
“With multiple national and international TV appearances under their belt, a new album and a sold-out UK tour, The Molotovs are poised to become one of the county’s most successful new acts in 2026.
Cat Rose, Plymouth singer(Image: Submitted)
John Cornfield – associate director of Sound Factory and a music producer who has worked with the Oasis, Stone Roses, The Verve, Supergrass, Robert Plant, Muse and more – said: “It’s great to see established and up and coming bands from across the country come to Plymouth for Sound Factory Festival.
“It’s shining a light on the talent we have down here too which is sometimes overlooked”.
Venue owner Ryan Platts said: “I’m very happy that The Depo is hosting a Festival like this, giving a broader reach to what we already do for the culture in Plymouth.
“Hosting live music and bands such as these really progresses the music scene in our city.
“With a line up like this, it looks to be really, really exciting. Everyone at the club is very much looking forward to the second Sound Factory Festival after last year’s success.”
The first Sound Factory Festival was headlined by The K’s and Bez from The Happy Mondays.
Within months of performing at the festival, The K’s achieved their first UK number one album, underlining what the festival stands for: championing rising talent on the verge of breakthrough success.
Sound Factory Festival will feature a main stage, Sound Magazine stage, and a rooftop BBC Introducing Stage.
Of other bands on the bill, London’s The Bracknall sold out a UK tour including the 1,500 capacity Electric Ballroom. The festival also hosts Plymouth’s rising stars Colour TV and Exeter band Die Twice who recently sold out the 510-capacity Exeter Phoenix.
South West based The Velvet Hands recently sold out the London Omeara venue; and Tom A Smith is selling out venues across the country, having played at Plymouth Summer Sessions on the Hoe last year.
A festival spokesperson said: “For any fans of indie rock, pop, and alternative music, this is a festival not to be missed.”
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