Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture presents

An Evening with Mike Dawes

October 15, 2026
8:00 PM

About the Show

RESCHEDULED: October 15, 2026

Original Tickets Remain Valid

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, with a repertoire spanning 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 & MusicRadar reader polls, with numerous 2nd 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 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, is anticipated for release in August 2024.

Critical Praise

Audience Reaction

Showtimes

Oct 15th
Thu

This production has ended

Event Details

Doors Open: 7:00pm
Show Begins: 8:00pm
Performance Space: Paradiso
Address: 2936 N Southport Ave. Chicago, IL 60657
Refund Policy: Describe the refund policy here

Dante 360 opening this weekend!

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Come on out tonight!

An Evening with Dennis Quaid

Hours
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Expired 10:00 AM

Dante 360

Midway upon the journey of our life, I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost.” 

And so we all begin—in darkness.

Join Dante on his most famous journey through the depths of hell, levels upon levels of purgatory, finally discovering the light and glory of paradise. You will find terror in the wild beasts he meets along the way; and only moments later great hope at the strong woman, Beatrice, who leads him always upwards.

This contemporary staged performances of one of the most epic stories of the western world is an immersive, multi-dimensional production that leads you into Dantes universe. Returning to the stage for the 4th year, this year’s production.

Its heaven. It’s hell. But above all, it’s worth the trip.

November 8–10, 2024