His debut release, a solo guitar arrangement of Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used to Know,’ quickly became a viral hit with tens of millions of views on YouTube. This success has been duplicated and expanded upon numerous times since 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, with whom he recorded the duet record ‘Accomplice Vol. 3,’ and the GRAMMY-nominated metal band Periphery, with whom Mike joined on their 2024 double single release.

Mike is featured on multiple Justin Hayward live releases, including Spirits...Live, which debuted at #2 on the US Billboard Chart. Dawes also has a strong reputation as an educator, acting as a columnist for Guitar World and Acoustic Guitar magazines, as well as teaching guitar masterclasses all over the world, creating apps, publishing degree-level literature, appearing as a TV judge on SKY TV’s ‘Guitar Star,’ and more.

Recently, he contributed electric guitars to Mentrix and Gareth Croker’s stunning soundtrack to Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, with other session work featured 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.

His third studio album, Galactic Acid, was released in August 2024.