Biography

Dawes experimented with keyboards before picking up his first electric guitar at age twelve.^[7] He switched to Steel-string acoustic guitar in 2008.^[8]

From late 2008 to late 2011, Dawes performed instrumental concerts at venues and festivals throughout the United Kingdom both solo, and with a Concert harp player. During this time he performed alongside musicians including Seth Lakeman, Tommy Emmanuel and Newton Faulkner.^[9][10] In 2009, he released an independent EP titled 'Reflections', as well as gaining features on two discs in the AGF (Acoustic Guitar Forum) franchise.^[11][12]

In 2012, Dawes signed with Wisconsin-based CandyRat Records.^[13] He released a unique and technically virtuosic arrangement of Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye on June 19^[13] that went viral, gaining acclaim from the international music community.^[2] MSN News and Reddit featured him on the front page of their websites. A headline on the US MSN browser spawned an influx of American fans. Gotye (Walter De Backer) himself publicly praised the arrangement: "It's a really beautiful piece of music. It's wonderfully arranged. It's just a fantastic piece of music. I also like the instrumental interpretation because it gives a different perspective on the musical arrangement. It's not about how somebody's voice transmits the story of the relationship."^[14]

Dawes' next release was another Candyrat single, this time dual-released with an independent collaborative remix featuring Helsinki-based guitarist Petteri Sariola and Adam 'Nolly' Getgood from the US band Periphery.^[15] 10% of the proceeds of all independent releases went to FAB Projects, a Kenyan charity providing Food, Aid and Building^[16] in the region.^[16][17] His 'What Just Happened?' world tour visited over 30 countries in 5 continents, including performances on the Great Wall of China and the Troubadour in Los Angeles, as well as the first fingerstyle guitar concert in Lebanon's history.^[1]

2016 saw Mike become the first acoustic artist signed by Dimarzio ^[18] sharing a roster with the likes of John Petrucci, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani as he co-designed the Black Angel magnetic soundhole pickup with Larry Dimarzio and Nick Benjamin.^[19] Additionally he began a monthly video & print column with Guitar World in the USA and taught as a special guest mentor on Sky TV's Guitar Star season 2.^[20][21]

'ERA', the second album was released independently on Dawes' own QTEN Records imprint (King Records in Japan + C&L Music in South Korea) in September 2017.^[22] The lead single, a one man cover of Metallica's 'One' gained around 40 million hits in its first fortnight online through Metal Hammer, Viral Thread and Dawes' own YouTube channel.^[23] The single also gained the attention of the progressive metal community worldwide, a fanbase often present at Mike's concerts. He also featured on AMC's Better Call Saul playing percussion and additional guitar on 'Cold Feet', a song created in a session with Fink ^[24]

Late 2017 saw Dawes named as the 'best acoustic guitarist in the world right now' by MusicRadar and Total Guitar's end of year poll. This title was awarded again in 2018.

The 2018 Moody Blues Cruise saw Mike share the stage with Cathy Richardson of Jefferson Starship whilst opening for The Orchestra featuring members of ELO.^[26]{{better source|date=March 2018}}

Dawes is influenced heavily by folk, pop and rock music as well as other fingerstyle players such as Michael Hedges, Pierre Bensusan^[15] and Eric Roche. In 2017, he is performing with Andreas Cuntz and Nick Benjamin guitars.^[27] Dawes owns and performs with #100 and #138.^[28] He also uses Ernie Ball strings,^[29] Dimarzio pickups,^[18] G7th capos.^[30] and the Tonewood Amp device.

Discography

• When EP (w/ Nik Mystery) (December 2018 - QTEN Records)

1. When

2. NOW

3. So

4. Drive

5. Movie Life Fantasy

• ERA Album (September 2017 - QTEN Records/King Records/C&L Music))

1. Encomium (Reverie)

2. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

3. Beirut

4. One

5. Purr & Sway

6. Belle Insomnie

7. Overload

8. Scarlet

9. The Old Room

10. Fortress

11. Boogie Shred Live in Florida (Japanese bonus track)

12. Somewhere Home Live in Florida (Japanese bonus track)

• What Just Happened? Album (April 2013 - Candyrat Records)

1. Boogie Slam

2. Somebody That I Used To Know

3. The Impossible

4. Forest Party

5. Somewhere Home

6. Titanium

7. Superstition

8. Boogie Shred

9. Maybe Someday Soon

• The Impossible 2.0 Remix w/ Nolly & Petteri Sariola, Digital Single (September 2012 - Independent)^[11][31]
• The Impossible, Digital Single (September 2012 - Candyrat Records)
• Somebody That I Used To Know (Gotye cover), Digital Single (June 2012 - Candyrat Records)
• Acoustic Guitar Forum 4 Compilation (August 2010), Featuring 'Scotch Pancake'
• Acoustic Guitar Forum 3 Compilation (January 2010), Featuring 'Clocks'
• Reflections EP (2009)

1. Mirrors

2. Still

3. Boogie Shred

4. Clocks

5. The Violet and the Bee

Guest appearances

• FSNBC (Fink - R'coup'd) April 2017: Dawes performs additional acoustic guitar ^[1]
• Yetzerhara (John Browne's Flux Conduct) January 2017: Dawes performs acoustic guitar on the song 'Melancholia'^[1]
• Live in Clearwater DVD/Blu-ray (Justin Hayward - Eagle Rock Records/PBS) September 2016: Dawes performs electric and acoustic guitars.^[32]
• The Story Behind Nights in White Satin DVD/Blu-ray (Justin Hayward - Eagle Rock Records/PBS) February 2015: Dawes performs acoustic guitar.^[32]
• Spirits Live in Atlanta DVD/Blu-ray (Justin Hayward - Eagle Rock Records/PBS) August 2014: Dawes performs electric and acoustic guitar as well as clips of original music. 'Spirits...Live' entered the US Billboard charts at #2.^[32]
• Phantom Shadow (Machinae Supremacy - Spinefarm/UMG) August 2014: Dawes performs acoustic guitar in the track 'Europa'.^[33]

Tuition

Dawes has produced numerous tuition aids for guitarists looking to learn his style of playing. These include four iOS tuition apps for Apple devices, regular workshops, guitar TABs and magazine columns for Acoustic Magazine & Guitar World

References

External links

• OfficialWebsite
• Candyrat Records