Newcastle and jazz go together like chalk and cheese, and yet two Radgies (Geordie for Scallywags) from the roughest part of town — one black, the other white — King and Stan form a bond stronger than brothers and a jazz band called Knats.
Still only 20, Knats are creating a buzz wherever they play with their infectious energy, giving rise to a whole new term, ‘Geordie Jazz,’ being coined by the likes of music legend and jazz evangelist Gilles Peterson.
Our film starts with the music, searching for its origins and finding a story of family, of community, of hope and creativity in the midst of struggle, in a city that’s historically suffered from a chronic lack of investment. It’s a story about love in its many forms. More to come soon.
Here is a collection of still photographs I’ve captured, offering a glimpse into the unfolding journey of this story’s development.
“Knats are pushing jazz forward from the North East with a gritty, soulful swagger — like a smoky basement session plugged into an MPC.”
Music Is My Sanctuary
“Knats don’t just play music — they feel it into existence. Every track breathes like it was born in a single take.”
BBC Introducing North East
“They’re not imitating the South London jazz scene — they’re building something colder, spacier, and arguably even freer.”
Lost in Sound blog
