Knats will release A Great Day in Newcastle, their second studio album, on March 6.
The Newcastle-based jazz duo are set to follow up last year’s self-titled debut with a second record, produced by Geordie Greep. The ex-Black Midi member and Holy, Holy hitmaker will feature on one of the A Great Day in Newcastle tracks, too. Knats, founded by bassist Stan Woodward and drummer King David-Ike Elechi, served as the opening act for both Eddie Chacon and Geordie Greep last year. A headline tour for Knats has been announced, with the duo set to perform at The 100 Club in London in January. A homecoming show at Cobalt in Newcastle for May 2 has also been announced. Knats has since released Wor Jackie, a song Woodward says was inspired by the coal mining industry and his grandfather’s work as a pitman.
Speaking of the track, Woodward said: “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.”
Further comments were made by the bassist on the album itself. Woodward said: “This album has been a few years of thought and writing in the making. In terms of how could we make a record as a love letter to our hometown, whilst still talking about some of problems working class people in the North East face, without seeming too self-pitiful.
“When Cooper Robson got involved, everything changed. These instrumental songs I’d been writing about certain specific topics now actually had stories to accompany them, with words delivered from a person who truly loves Newcastle as much as we do. A Great Day in Newcastle is an exploration through happy, sad and angry stories from Newcastle and the beginning of a new sound for Knats.”
A full tracklist for the album has since been shared, and can be found below. A Great Day in Newcastle releases March 6, with a physical release to follow on March 29.
- Intro
- Gainsborough Grove
- Wor Jackie
- Messy In
- Azure Blues
- Big Market
- Carpet Doctor
- Never Gonna Be a Boxer
- Farewell Johnny Miner
Knats’ self-titled debut received five stars from Cult Following and was named the third best album of 2025 in the Top 100 round-up.
