Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Jazz group Knats have shared details of their new album titled A Great Day In Newcastle. The record comes with production from long-time friend and collaborator Geordie Greep (black midi), who also features on one of the tracks. It will be released March 6, 2026 digitally and March 29, 2026 physically via London analogue specialists Gearbox Records (Abdullah Ibrahim, Elliot Galvin, Liza Lo, Cahill//Costello).
Led by two lifelong best friends from Newcastle, Stan Woodward (bass) and King David-Ike Elechi (drums), Knats have spent the last year touring the country and playing as the live band for both Greep and low-key RnB artist Eddie Chacon on their respective EU/UK dates.
Since releasing their debut album last year, they’ve been nominated for Best Breakthrough Artist at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, played sold-out headline shows across the UK and EU, and given performances at The Great Escape, We Out Here, Love Supreme, and more.
The new album sees the band pull together sophisticated musical arrangements but also harks back to their roots in Rock and experimentation, with much of the compositional work here is based around Olivier Messiaen’s modes.
“Wor Jackie,” the first single to be taken from the new album, is out now, and dives into the experience of the North East coal-mining pitman, using the famous Geordie football player, Jackie Milburn or ‘Wor Jackie’, as an archetypal figure for the story to unfold.
Speaking on the track, Stan says;
‘Wor Jackie’ was written at a time when I was reading into the North East coal mining industry, after a conversation with me grandad talking about his time as a pitman. The community aspect amongst the pitman astounded me, given the dangerous nature of the job. The piece, I initially intended to be a moody sort of march, which then evolved with the addition of Cooper Robsons gorgeous poems. The title ‘Wor Jackie’ refers to Newcastle football player Jackie Milburn, who was believed to have done half days in the pit and half on the football pitch, and who I thought would be the perfect character to represent this story.
A Great Day In Newcastle acts as a “musical documentation of the North East working class experience – the trials and tribulations, community, and culture.”
To celebrate the release of the new album, the band will head out on a UK headline tour this Spring including an appearance at Brick Lane Jazz Festival.
Knats Tour Dates
April 22 – The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, UK
April 23 – Voodoo Daddy’s, Norwich, UK
April 24 – Where Else?, Margate, UK
April 25 – Brick Lane Jazz Festival, London, UK
April 27 – Quarry, Liverpool, UK
April 28 – Band On The Wall, Manchester, UK
April 29 – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds, UK
April 30 – Hare & Hound, Birmingham, UK
May 1 – The Glad Cafe, Glasgow, UK
May 2 – Cobalt, Newcastle, UK
