Newcastle Upon Tyne quintet Knats announced details of their self-titled debut album. Out physically on 28th February and digitally 28th March via London analogue specialist label Gearbox Records (Elliot Galvin, Cahill//Costello, Village Of the Sun), the album follows their recent single “Tortuga (For Me Mam)” which marked their first release for the label.

Led by two lifelong best friends from Newcastle, Stan Woodward (bass) and King David-Ike Elechi (drums), Knats pride themselves on making “Geordie Jazz”, with sophisticated arrangements, strong melodies and danceable grooves. Their infectious energy has seen the band develop an enviable word-of-mouth ascent, earning Spotify playlist covers and plaudits from the likes of the Guardian, Jazzwise, and more. This debut album marks the beginning of the band’s sound, proper. It is a materialisation of the musical journey Stan and King have been on together over the past 10 years, drawn directly from their experiences growing up in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne—overcoming hardship and figuring things out on their own. Eventually, they found their missing link: the virtuosic young Geordie trumpet player, Ferg Kilsby, who, with his slick melodic ideas, completes the full sound that is Knats.

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