Knats’ ‘Bowling Ball’ Responds to UK Far-Right Rise

Knats have released a new single, ‘Bowling Ball’, written in the immediate aftermath of anti-fascist protests in Newcastle. The track takes aim at the recent surge of far-right activism across the UK, but its tone is less a broadside than a search for common ground. The North East collective has built a reputation for music that channels direct experience, turning frustration into precise, stylistically restless compositions.

The song pairs bass player Stan Woodward’s composition with spoken-word from poet Cooper Robson. Woodward said it was a response “to the disgusting rise of the far right,” written days after attending a counter-protest against the English Defence League on the West Road in Newcastle’s west end.

Knats move fluidly between avant-garde jazz, post-punk, and spoken word, a blend that caught wider attention on their debut album for Fontana / Gearbox earlier this year and during a recent Later… with Jools Holland appearance. The single’s artwork was drawn by comedian and visual artist Vic Reeves (Jim Moir).