KNATS • TUKAN [OPENING DES AFTERS JAZZ À LA VILLETTE #01]

OPENING OF THE JAZZ À LA VILLETTE AFTERS

To kick off the Jazz à la Villette Afters, La Petite Halle brings together two European visions of jazz that refuse to sit still.

On one side, KNATS and their "Geordie Jazz" rooted in Newcastle, crossed with hip-hop, drum'n'bass energy, and punk rage. On the other, TUKAN, a Brussels quartet translating electronic music codes into a fully organic live set.

Two bands, two trajectories, and a shared desire: to turn virtuosity into physical energy and the concert into a dancefloor.

// KNATS //

Led by childhood friends Stan Woodward on bass and King David-Ike Elechi on drums, KNATS claim a sound deeply attached to Newcastle and Northeast England.

The band collides jazz melodies, drum'n'bass rhythms, hip-hop culture, and punk aggressiveness, without ever sacrificing the groove. Fast, frontal, and danceable music driven by a high-tension rhythm section.

Released in May 2026 and produced with Geordie Greep, the album A Great Day in Newcastle extends this singular identity. The band tells the story of their territory, their youth, and the reality of the British working class, weaving together spoken word, social chronicle, and fierce optimism.

On stage, KNATS turns this material into an urgent, unvarnished live show where arrangement sophistication always serves movement.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knatsncl/ LIVE: https://youtu.be/cJzJ1CX1xE0?si=W2BudLamWtGKRLDv

// TUKAN //

Born from the encounter of four musicians at the Antwerp Jazz Studio, TUKAN develops electronic music played with the tools and reflexes of a live band.

The Brussels quartet fuses jazz, electro, funk, post-rock, and psychedelic textures in an analog and organic approach, with no computer at the center of the setup.

Patterns build up, rhythms intertwine, and tensions rise progressively until the boundary between instrumental concert and club blurs. Music as precise as it is physical, capable of combining the power of electronic production with the exhilarating instability of improvisation.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tukan_band/ LIVE: https://www.youtube.com/live/7WspSkCwhKw?si=CjYcusqII5mnJALA

Two bands that make jazz a starting point rather than a boundary.

The Afters start here! And they start standing up.

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⚠️ Free entry subject to capacity.

Grab a free ticket to help us anticipate attendance, but come early: reservation does not guarantee entry if the venue is already full.

There will be no ticket scanning at the door.

Find the entire Jazz à la Villette program: https://www.jazzalavillette.com/fr/

Discover all the Afters: https://www.jazzalavillette.com/fr/afters

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⚠️: Free entry, first come, first served: grab a free ticket so we can plan ahead, but come early! Reservation does not secure your spot if the venue is already full. There will be no ticket scanning at the entrance.

---- PRACTICAL INFO:

🔥 LA PETITE HALLE, A LIVELY VENUE IN THE HEART OF LA VILLETTE La Petite Halle is a hybrid and welcoming venue located in the heart of Parc de la Villette, sitting between a concert hall, a restaurant-bar, and a nightlife space. Accessible, inclusive, and open to all curiosities, it champions an eclectic programming supported by a broad jazz foundation. Jazz as an opening, as a common language between afro-descendant genres: hip-hop, soul, electro, RnB... The spirit here is about fusion, diversity, sound exploration, and artistic freedom. A true laboratory for musicians, La Petite Halle welcomes both young talents and cult figures, with a stated commitment to making culture lively, demanding, and accessible to the greatest number. 📍 ACCESS La Petite Halle – Parc de la Villette 211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, Paris