Norwich Jazz Festival: Knats
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Nominated for the Mercury Music Prize Award 2026.
Knats are a hard-hitting trio from Newcastle upon Tyne, channelling rock grit, fusion fire and floor-filling grooves into a bold new sound they call “Geordie Jazz”.
The band was formed by two lifelong best friends from Newcastle’s West End – bassist Stan Woodward and drummer King David Ike-Elechi – and completed by trumpet phenom Ferg Kilsby.
Described by Jazzwise 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 chops 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 and tour with Geordie Greep, before signing to Fontana Records and releasing their second album, A Great Day In Newcastle, in May 2026.
Produced by Greep, the album showcases a heavier side to the band’s sound, drawing on their roots playing rock and metal. Featuring an array of collaborators and 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”.
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, including Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Soweto Kinch, Jamz Supernova, Tom Ravenscroft and Tony Minvielle. They’ve also collaborated with major fashion brands Palace, Beams, Aubin & Wills and Arc’teryx.
After making their US debut at SXSW in March 2026, completing their second headline tour of the UK and recording a Worldwide FM session for Gilles Peterson, Knats are set to play their first shows in Europe this May, taking Geordie Jazz to the world.
