Any Young Mechanic
Having taken their name from a line in the film Hooray For Hollywood, it’s not surprising there is a cinematic quality to Any Young Mechanic’s music. Formerly known as Wake in Fright, the band incorporates intricate scenes, enthralling narratives and unique characters into its lyrics, with a spectrum of moods and emotions stretching through the music.
The Adelaide-based five-piece features Sam Wilson (vocals/guitar), Jay Eliot Mee (drums), Thea Martin (violin), Allan McBean (upright bass) and Luka Kilgariff-Johnson (electric guitar/banjo), and they bring a fresh language to folk music’s natural propensity to spin a good yarn. “We are trying to make folk music for now,” says frontman Sam Wilson. “Turning it on its head in a new, sometimes uncanny way, because we don’t want to just do the old thing again.” In 2024, the band were recipients of the Helpmann Academy’s Creative Innovator Program major seed funding that helped fund an Australian and international publicity campaign for the release of their 2026 debut album, The Modern Shoe Is Ruining the Foot.
Sam Wilson (on behalf of Any Young Mechanic) 2024.I would recommend the Helpmann Creative Innovator Program to any emerging artist who is looking to develop the viability of their practice. The ability to work personally with the mentor of our choice was a transformative experience as an emerging artist... having the space to consider and refine the logistics, strategies, and aims of my practice was invaluable.
- 2023
Performs at JaumaFest South Australia
2023Any Young Mechanic receives a Helpmann Academy grant to record, mix and master the album The Modern Shoe is Ruining the Foot Value: $3,000
- 2023
Any Young Mechanic receives Helpmann Academy Fellowship to support live and promotional tour of Any Young Mechanic’s 2023 album, Touch Hands Pack Sting, to Tokyo, Japan Value: $10,000
- 2024
Thea receives a Helpmann Academy grant to support immediate expenses Value: $500
- 2024
Sam, Jay and Thea participant in the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program, on behalf of Any Young Mechanic, an incubator for creative entrepreneurship Value: $45,000
- 2024
Any Young Mechanic receives the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program major seed funding, to support its development activities. Value: $20,000
- 2025
Australian tour to Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne
- 2025
First international tour of Europe and UK to London, Reading, Leeds, Paris, Istanbul, Hamburg, Manchester, Southampton, Bristol
- 2025
Performs at Rock en Seine, Paris
- 2025
Performs at Lock In Festival, Camden
- 2025
Performs at Reeperbahn Festival, Germany
- 2025
Single releases, Sitting in The Same Chairs
- 2025
Performs at Harvest Rock, Adelaide
- 2025
Performs as part of New Year’s At The Bowl, Victoria
- 2026
Performs at WOMADelaide, Adelaide
- 2026
Australian Tour to St Kilda, North Fitzroy, Geelong, Wollongong, Sydney, Newcastle
- 2026
North America shows in Los Angeles and New York
$79K +
value in support and
opportunities from
Helpmann Academy
- 2023
Performs at JaumaFest South Australia
- 2023
Any Young Mechanic receives a Helpmann Academy grant to record, mix and master the album The Modern Shoe is Ruining the Foot Value: $3,000
- 2023
Any Young Mechanic receives Helpmann Academy Fellowship to support live and promotional tour of Any Young Mechanic’s 2023 album, Touch Hands Pack Sting, to Tokyo, Japan Value: $10,000
- 2024
Thea receives a Helpmann Academy grant to support immediate expenses Value: $500
- 2024
Sam, Jay and Thea participant in the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program, on behalf of Any Young Mechanic, an incubator for creative entrepreneurship Value: $45,000
- 2024
Any Young Mechanic receives the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program major seed funding, to support its development activities. Value: $20,000
- 2025
Australian tour to Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne
- 2025
First international tour of Europe and UK to London, Reading, Leeds, Paris, Istanbul, Hamburg, Manchester, Southampton, Bristol
- 2025
Performs at Rock en Seine, Paris
- 2025
Performs at Lock In Festival, Camden
- 2025
Performs at Reeperbahn Festival, Germany
- 2025
Single releases, Sitting in The Same Chairs
- 2025
Performs at Harvest Rock, Adelaide
- 2025
Performs as part of New Year’s At The Bowl, Victoria
- 2026
Performs at WOMADelaide, Adelaide
- 2026
Australian Tour to St Kilda, North Fitzroy, Geelong, Wollongong, Sydney, Newcastle
- 2026
North America shows in Los Angeles and New York
$79K +
value in support and
opportunities from
Helpmann Academy