Mechanical Owl is the project of Welsh musician Mike Payne, which started life in Leeds in the late 2000s as a lo-fi indie recording experiment. His debut Snowdonia EP, inspired by artists like Broken Social Scene, Why?, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, CTFTPA, and Death Cab for Cutie, gained national radio support and led to shows ranging from solo laptop sets to full-band performances across UK cities and festivals. A more ambitious self-produced debut album, Winter Songs, followed to strong indie-press reception.
After stepping back in the mid-2010s to focus on family and a Computer Science Masters, Mike continued writing and releasing music through projects including M.J.Payne and Half Avian.
FOCUS Wales 2026 marks Mechanical Owl’s first show in over two years, with a refreshed lineup and new material alongside older songs.