The Molotovs rock iconic Soho street with surprise Christmas gig in support of The Big Issue

Rock outfit The Molotovs shut down Berwick Street in central London over the weekend with a surprise guerrilla gig in support of The Big Issue’s Stop, Talk and Support Christmas campaign.

The band – siblings Matt and Issey Cartlidge, aged 17 and 19 – performed tracks from their upcoming debut album Wasted On Youth, drawing large crowds on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The set included a festive cover of Merry Xmas Everybody, with Big Issue vendors Paul and Terry also on hand to speak with passers-by.

The location, made famous by Oasis’s What’s the Story (Morning Glory)? album cover, provided a symbolic setting for the event, which aimed to highlight the importance of social interaction and support for street vendors during the winter period.

Speaking at the event, Matt Cartlidge said: “The Big Issue does an amazing job helping people, but it’s also up to the rest of us to make sure vendors feel like part of the community.”

The Big Issue’s campaign focuses on encouraging the public to engage with vendors and to help tackle the social isolation many of them face. Managing Director Russell Blackman called the event “a powerful way to get people to stop, start a conversation and support vendors during their most important sales weekend of the year”.

The Molotovs, who have supported acts including Blondie and Iggy Pop, release Wasted On Youth via Marshall Records on 30^th January 2026. A UK headline tour will follow.

The editorial unit
Photo: Courtesy of The Molotovs

For further information and future events, visit The Molotovs’s website here.

Watch the video for Rhythm of Yourself here: