Knats Rock Newcastle: Mercury Prize Nod Sparks North East Music Revival!

The Newcastle-based jazz band Knats has been nominated for the 2026 Mercury Prize, one of the most important music awards in the UK. The group is made up of three members: bassist Stan Woodward, drummer King David-Ike Elechi, and trumpet player Ferg Kilsby. Their second album, 'A Great Day in Newcastle,' is named after their home city and has brought them this exciting nomination. The band members are all 23 years old and have been friends for a long time. Stan and King David-Ike met at school in the West End of Newcastle and became close friends because they both loved the Arctic Monkeys. When their music teacher would not let them play an Arctic Monkeys song, they decided to start their own band. Later, Ferg joined them, and together they created their unique jazz sound.

Knats believe that their Mercury Prize nomination is not just a personal achievement, but something that represents the whole of north-east England. They want to inspire young musicians in Newcastle and show them that it is possible to succeed in music, even if you come from a smaller city. Stan said that when they were younger, they would always look at the Mercury Prize nominations and hope that one day they would be on the list. Now that it has happened, it feels almost unreal to them. They are proud to be nominated alongside other talented artists like JADE from South Shields, Olivia Dean, Sir Paul McCartney, and Raye.

The Mercury Prize ceremony will be held in Newcastle for the second year in a row on 22 October. The winner will receive a prize of £25,000. King David-Ike said that their success is not just for them, but for the whole area. He explained that the North East has not had much attention in this style of music before, as it is usually known for rock music. The band hopes that their nomination will encourage more young people in Newcastle to start making music. They want to be role models for the next generation and show that with hard work and passion, anyone can achieve their dreams. For Knats, a win at the Mercury Prize would be a victory for the entire North East community.