Mike Dawes is an English fingerstyle guitar player, arranger and composer from Guildford, United Kingdom. He works in acoustic rock, chillout, folk, folk rock, instrumental and neofolk, and is known for an acoustic style that draws on tapping and other extended guitar techniques.

Early life and playing style

Dawes begins playing music at the age of four, after being introduced to The Blues Brothers by his parents. He first experiments with keyboards before taking up electric guitar at 12. He becomes active in the local music scene and plays in a number of bands and projects while still young.

At 13, he reaches the semi-finals of Jimmy Page’s Riffathon competition in 2003. He later develops an interest in tapping on his old Les Paul, which helps shape the approach he uses on acoustic guitar.

Acoustic work

In late 2007, Dawes picks up his first acoustic guitar, a modified Taylor he names Jean Claude. He then moves into solo performance, playing across southern England and developing a style that combines several genres with a light touch of humour.

Collaborations

He later forms Mike Dawes & Amy Turk and shares the stage with a range of musicians. He is also described as working with Nick Benjamin’s 100th guitar, an Alpine Spruce/Cocobolo instrument that suits his playing style.