A HEXHAM musician is in the running for one of the biggest prizes in music tonight as his band competes for the 2026 Mercury Prize.
Trumpeter Ferg Kilsby, who attended St Joseph's Middle School and Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham, is part of Newcastle jazz group Knats, whose second album, A Great Day in Newcastle, is among the 12 records shortlisted for Album of the Year.
The winner will be revealed at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle tonight (Thursday, October 22), with Knats also due to perform a track from their nominated album during the ceremony.
Kilsby joined Newcastle childhood friends Stan Woodward and King David-Ike Elechi after the pair discovered videos of the Hexham trumpeter playing on YouTube.
The group describe their distinctive sound as "Geordie jazz", with A Great Day in Newcastle drawing heavily on their North East roots.
A Great Day in Newcastle, released in May, celebrates the band's North East roots, with tracks exploring the region's history, communities and working-class life. The album includes Wor Jackie, inspired by Newcastle United legend and former miner Jackie Milburn.
Knats face competition from some of the biggest names in British music, including Olivia Dean, RAYE, Paul McCartney, Dave, Florence + The Machine and South Shields star JADE.
The awards are being held in Newcastle for a second consecutive year after North Shields-born Sam Fender won the 2025 prize with People Watching.
Organisers describe the Mercury Prize as celebrating "artistic achievement across an eclectic range of contemporary music genres", with this year's overall winner selected by an independent judging panel.
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