Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Nick Grimshaw reacts to the Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist with nominees Knats, a jazz collective who are one of the most exciting bands in the UK music scene right now - and whose latest album ‘A Great Day in Newcastle’ has been described as “the best thing to come out of the North East since Andy Carroll.”
In a year of great albums from the UK and Ireland, artists including Paul McCartney, RAYE, Olivia Dean, JADE and more have made it on to the list - watch as Nick and Knats discuss this year's nominees.
You can listen to Sidetracked on BBC Sounds here: bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gfmzbn
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.
#sidetracked #MercuryPrize #Knats
00:00 Intro
00:55 Knats and their Mercury Prize nomination
03:51 Forming the band
07:52 Musical influences
11:52 Mercury Prize explained
13:13 This year's Mercury Prize shortlist
26:06 Listening to albums in full
27:27 Geordie Jazz and ‘A Great Day In Newcastle’
29:53 Reacting to the success of their music
30:56 Jazz scenes in the North East
32:58 Album writing process and lessons learned
36:55 Mercury Prize Day plans
Nick Grimshaw reacts to the Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist with nominees Knats, a jazz collective who are one of the most exciting bands in the UK music scene right now - and whose latest album ‘A Great Day in Newcastle’ has been described as “the best thing to come out of the North East since Andy Carroll.”
In a year of great albums from the UK and Ireland, artists including Paul McCartney, RAYE, Olivia Dean, JADE and more have made it on to the list - watch as Nick and Knats discuss this year's nominees.
You can listen to Sidetracked on BBC Sounds here: bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gfmzbn
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.
#sidetracked #MercuryPrize #Knats
00:00 Intro
00:55 Knats and their Mercury Prize nomination
03:51 Forming the band
07:52 Musical influences
11:52 Mercury Prize explained
13:13 This year's Mercury Prize shortlist
26:06 Listening to albums in full
27:27 Geordie Jazz and ‘A Great Day In Newcastle’
29:53 Reacting to the success of their music
30:56 Jazz scenes in the North East
32:58 Album writing process and lessons learned
36:55 Mercury Prize Day plans
