Knats

Knats are a jazz trio from Newcastle upon Tyne, appearing at Kirkgate Community Centre in Shipley. Their recordings blend jazz with rock, fusion and club-derived rhythms.

Knats grew out of a friendship between bass player Stan Woodward and drummer King David Ike-Elechi, who met in Newcastle's West End. Trumpeter Ferg Kilsby completes the trio. After moving to London to study at Trinity Laban conservatoire, the group built a following through its live performances, with headline shows at Jazz Refreshed and Rough Trade East and support slots alongside Str4ta and Theon Cross.

Their self-titled debut album draws on influences ranging from jazz fusion to UK club beats, and earned a nomination in the newcomer category at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. The band later backed Eddie Chacon, toured with Geordie Greep and signed to Fontana Records. Their second album, A Great Day In Newcastle, was produced by Greep and leans towards the heavier rock and metal side of the group's background. Newcastle poet Cooper Robson contributes storytelling that portrays working-class life in the city, which the band calls Geordie Noir.

The concert takes place at Kirkgate Community Centre, a concert and performance venue in Shipley, and suits listeners interested in jazz that moves between groove-led rhythm sections and rock-driven intensity.