“technical virtuosity and passion… compelling” – Acoustic Guitar
Mike Dawes is an English guitarist known for composing, arranging, and performing multiple parts simultaneously on a single guitar. He is regarded as one of the world’s most creative modern fingerstyle guitarists. Also, his repertoire includes original viral videos and popular arrangements alongside mainstream chart success performing with Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues.
Dawes was named Best Acoustic Guitarist in the World two years in a row (2017 & 2018) by Total Guitar Magazine & Music Radar reader polls, with numerous second place rankings in the proceeding years. YouTube personality Rick Beato named Mike “one of the finest acoustic guitar players in the world.”
His debut release, a solo guitar arrangement of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” quickly became a viral hit. Moreover, it received tens of millions of views on YouTube. This success has been duplicated and expanded upon numerous times. He’s scored hits with songs like “One,” “The Impossible,” and “Jump” across multiple video platforms.
His reputation has invited him opportunities to collaborate with Grammy Award-winning artists such as Tommy Emmanuel. Together, they recorded the duet record Accomplice Vol.3. Dawes also worked with the Grammy-nominated metal band Periphery, joining them on their 2024 double single release. Mike is featured on multiple Justin Hayward live releases, including Spirits…Live, which debuted at Number Two on the US Billboard Chart.
Recently, he contributed electric guitars to Mentrix and Gareth Croker’s stunning soundtrack to Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Additionally, he has done other session work on TV shows such as AMC’s Better Call Saul.
Mike’s passion, however, is performing. He has shared the stage with acts as diverse as Tommy Emmanuel, Christopher Cross, Periphery, The Aristocrats, Justin Hayward, and the Athens State Orchestra in 2023 alone.
Recommended for fans of Tommy Emmanuel, Andy McKee, Kaki King and Trace Bundy.
