Knats

about

Knats are a Mercury-nominated trio from Newcastle upon Tyne, channelling rock grit, fusion fire and floor-filling grooves into a bold new sound they call “Geordie Jazz”.

Formed by two lifelong best friends from Newcastle’s West End – bassist Stan Woodward and drummer King David Ike-Elechi – the core trio is completed by trumpet phenom Ferg Kilsby.

Jazzwise described them as one of the most exciting new bands in the UK. In the words of The Guardian, they “gleefully rewire jazz with a hard-as-nails rhythm section, drum’n’bass energy and punk aggression.”

After moving to London in 2022 to hone their jazz skills at Trinity Laban conservatoire, Knats quickly built a reputation for their explosive live shows, selling out headline gigs at Jazz Refreshed and Rough Trade East, supporting Str4ta at a packed Jazz Cafe and Theon Cross at the BBC Proms.

In March 2025 they released their self-titled debut album on Gearbox Records, reflecting their diverse influences – from jazz fusion to UK club beats. With its strong melodies, virtuosic solos and infectious grooves, the album won widespread acclaim and earned them a nomination for ‘Jazz Newcomer of the Year’ at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Knats went on to back Eddie Chacon, tour with Geordie Greep and perform at SXSW (their US debut) before signing to Fontana Records and releasing their second album, A Great Day In Newcastle, in May 2026. The album showcases a heavier side to the band’s sound, drawing on their roots playing rock and metal. Produced by Geordie Greep and featuring an array of collaborators – including powerful storytelling from Newcastle poet Cooper Robson – it’s an unflinching portrait of working-class life in their home city, full of humour, optimism and grit. They call it “Geordie Noir”.

In July, A Great Day In Newcastle was nominated for the Mercury Prize, capping a whirlwind few months for the band. Since the album’s release, they’ve appeared on Jools Holland, supported Nadine Shah at the BBC Proms, collaborated with corto.alto on a remix of ‘Never Gonna Be A Boxer’, performed at Green Man and We Out Here festival and played two sold-out shows at London’s Moth Club.

Alongside coverage in The Guardian and Jazzwise, Knats have been featured in DownBeat, Rolling Stone Japan, The Line of Best Fit, Mojo and Record Collector. They’ve had radio support from leading UK tastemakers Lauren Laverne, Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Soweto Kinch, Jamz Supernova, Deb Grant & Nathan Shepherd, Tom Ravenscroft and Jazz FM’s Tony Minvielle. On BBC Radio 6 Music they made the playlist (following in the footsteps of UK jazz pioneers Ezra Collective, KOKOROKO and corto.alto) and were selected as a New Music Fix Breaking Artist. Nick Grimshaw is another supporter and invited Knats on his Side Tracked podcast to announce the Mercury Prize shortlist.

In the fashion world, Knats have brought their energy and charisma to collaborations with Newcastle United Football Club, END, Palace, Beams, Aubin & Wills and Arc’teryx. With the Mercury Prize announcement in October and influential figures among their fans – from Sam Fender and Lauren Laverne to Jim Moir (Vic Reeves), who created the art work for recent single ‘Bowling Ball’ – Knats are bringing Geordie jazz to the world.