From bedroom beats to bbc proms, knats' jazz odyssey ignites a northeast revival

Knats, the jazz collective from Newcastle, is forging a new path for the genre in their hometown. Led by school friends David-Ike Elechi and Stan Woodward, the group's journey from DIY bedroom experiments to BBC Proms performances epitomizes the spirit of resilience and creative determination.

From local club to international stages

Elechi and Woodward first met in year seven, bonding over a pink rubber novelty passed between them in class. Their friendship led to a School of Rock-style Music club, but a harsh teacher's criticism prompted them to leave and start their own project. Ten years later, their defiant streak remains, albeit tempered by a growth in accepting constructive feedback.

What began as self-taught bedroom jamming – Woodward on a Tesco guitar, Elechi on church-learned drums – has evolved into a sprawling, eclectic sound that blends gritty percussion, menacing horns, and bright, groove-led melodies. Along the way, they discovered trumpeter Ferg Kilsby on YouTube, clocked he lived nearby in Hexham, and tracked him down. Now, all three are studying at Trinity College's London conservatoire.

Despite the UK jazz revival being London-centric, with artists in the spotlight and youth initiatives like Tomorrow's Warriors and the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy, Knats remains proudly