Newcastle band Knats have reacted with disbelief after being nominated for the Mercury Prize 2026. The jazz collective joins South Shields pop icon JADE on the shortlist, with both acts representing the North East.
A 'Mental' Achievement
Speaking on the Sidetracked podcast with Nick Grimshaw, the band described the news as 'absolutely mental'. They revealed they were on Grainger Street in Newcastle when they found out, while their manager was 'rolling around crying' in a bar in Gateshead.
The Mercury Prize has launched careers like Dizzee Rascal and Ms Dynamite. Last year, Sam Fender won for his album People Watching, with the ceremony held outside London for the first time. This year's event takes place at Utilita Arena on October 22.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Knats, founded by Stan Woodward and King David Ike-Elechi, hope their nomination inspires young musicians. 'The success is not just for us it's for the area,' they said. 'The North East hasn't had this much hype towards it especially in this genre of music... A goal of ours is to inspire the next generation.'
Their second album, A Great Day in Newcastle, has been described as 'the best thing to come out of the North East since Andy Carroll'. JADE's debut album That's Showbiz Baby is also nominated.
