Newcastle jazz band Knats are breaking out of the north-south divide with their new album, A Great Day in Newcastle, produced by Black Midi's Geordie Greep. The band, formed by King David Ike-Elechi and Stan Woodward after a school music club rejection, has evolved from bedroom experiments into a critically acclaimed ensemble that has performed at the BBC Proms.
From DIY Beginnings to Jazz Prominence
The story of Knats began in year seven when Elechi and Woodward bonded over a silent game involving a giant pink rubber. After being told they weren't good enough to cover Arctic Monkeys' R U Mine?, they left the club and started making music themselves. Woodward taught himself guitar on a Tesco instrument, while Elechi learned drums at church. Their early experiments spanned metal, grunge, reggae, and house before they discovered jazz through hip-hop and drum'n'bass samples, eventually tracing the roots back to legends like Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, and Ahmad Jamal.
Now 22, both musicians are studying at Trinity Laban's conservatoire in London, alongside trumpeter Ferg Kilsby, whom they discovered on YouTube and tracked down in Hexham. The lineup also includes saxophonist George Johnson, pianist Sandro Shar, and occasional vocalist Cooper Robson. Despite their relocation, the band insists they play "geordie jazz," a term that reflects their regional identity.
Regional Disparities in the UK Jazz Scene
While the UK jazz revival has gained mainstream traction, epitomized by Ezra Collective's Brit Award win in 2025, Knats have faced challenges due to their northern roots. When they moved to London, they struggled to secure live bookings compared to their London-based peers. Kilsby notes the decline of northern arts programs, recalling how his brother played in a county band for free, but by the time he was older, such opportunities had vanished.
Despite these setbacks, the band remains confident. Last year, Geordie Greep, former frontman of Black Midi, agreed to produce their second album pro bono. Greep, who first connected with the band after Elechi sent him a follower request on Instagram, was impressed by their musicianship. "They know what they want and where they're going," he says. "They don't want to make music that's just for dancing. They want to do music comparable to great works of intellectual jazz and classical music."
A Great Day in Newcastle: Themes of Resilience and Pride
The album, dedicated to their hometown, explores themes of toxic masculinity and local pride. Lead single Wor Jackie tells the story of footballer and miner Jackie Milburn, while Carpet Doctor, featuring Greep, reflects on life after prison, inspired by a close friend of Woodward's family. "Overall, the album has a positive message," says Woodward. "There's anger, but not towards other people. It's about our own communities in a positive way, not pitiful."
Elechi describes "Geordie optimism" as "this rigorous spirit of hard graft. It's cold as fuck outside, but everyone is happy. The mantra of this band is essentially: there's nothing here for us, but we've made it work."
Future Plans: Returning to Newcastle
While Knats recognize the need to stay in London for now, they plan to return to Newcastle eventually. Last year, they hosted a one-off jazz masterclass, and Woodward hopes to establish a free program for kids similar to Tomorrow's Warriors by the time they turn 30. "London has grown on me a little bit, but it's never going to be as good as the Toon," he says.
A Great Day in Newcastle is released 1 May on Fontana. The single Never Gonna Be a Boxer is out now.
