Newcastle-born jazz powerhouse Knats have returned with “Bowling Ball,” a powerful and politically urgent new single. Premiered by Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 6 Music, the track follows the release of their recent video for “7 Bridges To Burn” and arrives amidst a rapid, undeniable ascent for the rising young group.
Consisting of lifelong friends Stan Woodward (bass), King David-Ike Elechi (drums), and Ferg Kilsby (trumpet/flugelhorn), Knats have quickly established themselves as a leading force in the next generation of UK jazz. The band recently signed to the legendary label Fontana—home to the likes of Jordan Rakei and Jon Batiste—just two weeks before releasing their Geordie Greep-produced album A Great Day In Newcastle. The record debuted at an impressive #2 on the Official Jazz & Blues Chart, fueled by an incendiary performance of their hit single “Never Gonna Be A Boxer” on Later… with Jools Holland.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered at London’s iconic Metropolis Studios, “Bowling Ball” channels a heavier, avant-rock-infused jazz sound to match its weighty subject matter. Bassist Stan Woodward explains that the track was written as a direct, angry reaction to the rise of the far-right in the UK:
It was written a few days after attending the counter protest against the EDL on the West Road, in the west end of Newcastle.
To accompany the single, the band has shared a short documentary detailing the creation of the song and the real-world events that inspired it. Additionally, the single’s striking artwork was painted by legendary comedian and artist Jim Moir (Vic Reeves), who recently praised the band’s eclectic sound as ‘…bits of Mingus, Brand X, Parker, poetry, synth rock, chucked into a bucket and presented in a beautiful Geordie jazz cake.’
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