Briefly -

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 A leading exponent of contemporary acoustic guitar, record producer, composer, and a consummate performer.

"If awards were handed out for consistency and excellence, Michael Fix's trophy room would be overflowing with ARIA gongs for best instrumental albums"

- Tony Hillier (Rhythms Magazine)

"His interpretations of other people's tunes have a fresh individuality about them, while his own compositions draw on diverse influences to create a personal uniqueness that is easy to listen to, but hard to reproduce.

 His fingerpicking is flawless, his sense of rhythm is completely controlled...

 "... Michael has an instrumental voice that is both a challenge to other guitarists and completely enjoyable to everyone."- Steve Henderson (Guitarist Australia Magazine)   

Biography -

Michael Fix is widely acclaimed as one of the world’s finest acoustic guitarists.

He has won three Golden Guitars and numerous other awards in Australia, and tours widely throughout the world, particularly Asia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, and elsewhere in Europe.

In 2012 he made his first trip to South Africa, where he performed to standing ovations in every venue.

Over the past two decades, he’s released 15 albums, together with several singles and EPs, and has established himself globally as a leading performer, appearing at festivals and concert venues across Australia, Europe and Asia.

Michael is an internationally recognised composer, whose music is also widely heard in TV shows and documentaries all over the world.

As a Maton guitar endorsee (with his own popular signature model guitar), his guitar workshops are in high demand all over Australia and internationally.

Put a guitar into Michael Fix’s hands and the emotional possibilities of music are suddenly released. This remarkable composer and musician has the power to create myriad sensory experiences through his music – it captures and conveys emotions, experiences and images with ease.

And his music is unforgettable.

Michael began performing in his home town of Wollongong at the age of 12, and in his early twenties moved to Sydney, where he was discovered by the legendary Tommy Emmanuel. Emmanuel became a mentor to the young guitarist and spent several years teaching and working with him.

Michael’s credentials include acclaimed Sydney band Hat Trick, which he joined in 1984. Hat Trick specialised in eclectic versions of classical and folk pieces, and this music has played a major role in the development of Michael’s own musical style.

The years 1991–95 saw Michael working with award-winning singer/songwriter Graeme Connors, touring Australia as lead guitarist with Connors’ band.

Michael also found time to produce his debut solo album, Tantalise, and to build up a strong and rapidly growing following for his work with a succession of solo shows.

In 1999, Michael was recognised with his first Instrumental of the Year Golden Guitar, for the catchy ‘Mr Wonglepong’. He went on to win the award the following year with ‘Walkin’ the Walk’, and took it out again in 2003 with ‘Mulga Dan’.

With an eclectic yet accessible style, he’s toured with artists as diverse as Albert Lee, Christine Anu and Anne Murray, as well as appearing with the world’s greatest guitarists — including Leo Kottke, Tommy Emmanuel, Joe Robinson and Martin Taylor — at festivals in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

On Australia Day 1997, Michael opened the Gift to a Nation concert, performing ‘Classical Gas’ with Tommy Tycho’s orchestra. This event was filmed before 150,000 people and telecast live across the nation on the Seven Network.

Michael regularly presents guitar workshops to aspiring guitarists captivated by both his expertise on the guitar and his original music. Michael believes strongly that his music is a gift which should be shared.

Over the years, he has taken the chance to use his music to assist others. In 1995, he penned ‘Bush Bash’ to raise funds for the Variety Club of Australia. The song was used as part of the Variety Club’s annual car rally.

In 2002, following the death of legendary country guitarist Barry Thornton, Michael recorded Remembering Barry Thornton, a fundraising EP to assist Barry’s family. He also penned a single in memory of Barry, ‘Mulga Dan’. The song went on to win Michael his third Instrumental of the Year Golden Guitar, as well as taking out the 2003 Victorian Country Music Award in the Instrumental category.

In 2008, Michael joined forces with rising star Rose Carleo to record Reach Out, an EP to raise funds for Suicide Awareness.

Recognition of Michael’s extraordinary talents on the guitar has led to major ongoing sponsorship deals with Maton Guitars, D’Addario Strings, Shubb Capos, GuitarPro software, as well as AER amplification.

Career highlights -

 

  • Annual European Tours since 2004

  • Annual 'Acoustic Guitar Spectacular' tours
  • 2018, 2016 China tour
  • 2012 South Africa, New Zealand, Europe, Australia tours

  • 2008, 2009 tours of Japan.

  • 2004 & 2001 Queensland Recording Association winner, Instrumental album of the Year

  • 2003 CMAA Golden Guitar winner, Instrumental of the Year, "Mulga Dan"

  • 2003 Victorian Country Music Award, Best Instrumental, "Mulga Dan"

  • 2000 CMAA Golden Guitar winner, Instrumental of the Year, "Walkin' the Walk"

  • 2000 Release of "Michael Fix" signature model guitar by Maton Guitars

  • 2000 Invited to perform at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention, Nashville

  • 1999 CMAA Golden Guitar winner, Instrumental of the Year, "Mr Wonglepong"

  • 1999 International guitar festival with Leo Kottke, Martin Taylor & Tommy Emmanuel, Auckland NZ

  • 1997 Australia Day: Opened the Gift to a Nation concert, performing "Classical Gas" with Tommy Tycho's orchestra. (150.000 people live and telecast on Seven Network).

  • 1997 Australian tour with Canadian singer Anne Murray

  • 1997 Soloist with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, presenting the music of Gershwin

  • 1995 Australian tour with US guitar legend Albert Lee.

  • 1994 release of "Bush Bash" in conjunction with the Variety Club Bash to raise funds for children

Regular appearances on Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton

Festival performances over the past decade include regular appearances at the Bangkok Guitar festival, Open Strings Festival (Osnabruck), Dunkirque Guitar Festival, Sarzana International Guitar Meeting, Frankston Guitar Festival, Ullapool Guitar Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Gympie Muster, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Norfolk Island Country Music Festival, Lord Howe Island Music Festival, Illawarra Folk Festival, Grafton Music Festival, Blue Mountains Festival, Jabiru Festival of the Wind, Top Half Folk Festival, Grafton Artsfest, NZ Mainland Festival, Wintermoon, Christchurch festival of romance, and the Emerald Country Music Festival.

Discography -

Albums

  • Road Wear (2023) 

  • Echoes From The Past (2022, with Richard Gilewitz)

  • One Christmas Eve (2021)

  • Timelines - Australian Stories in Song (2021, with Mark Cryle)

  • Cloudsurfing (2019)

  • North & South  ​​​(2019, with Christine Collister)

  • Acoustic Guitar Spectacular 2018 (with Andrea Valeri & Sarah Koppen)

  • Shadows & Light (2017, with Christine Collister)

  • Bending Air (2016)

  • Fix  (2015, with Adrian Fix)

  • Lines & Spaces (2014)

  • Time Lines (2012

  • Two Timing (2011, duets with various guests )

  • ClassicFix (2009)

  • Rewind (2007)

  • Somethings Cooking (2005)

  • Web of Dreams (2003)

  • Sunday Morning (2001)

  • Transfixed (2000)

  • The Heart Has Reasons (1996, remastered 2004)

  • Fingerpaintings (1993)

  • Tantalise (1992) 

EPs

  • Remembering Barry Thornton (2002)
  • Promise (1998)

Singles

  • The Other Side (2021)
  • Dalveen (2020)
  • Christmas Takes Me Home (2020, with Allan Caswell)
  • Walkin' the Walk (1999)
  • Breakup Breakdown (1997)
  • Restless (1996)
  • Falling (1995)
  • Sundaze (1995)
  • Bush Bash (1994)

 Video VHS

  • No Secrets! (1997)

Songbooks

  • Walking Bass grooves (book + DVD 2019)
  • Play with Feeling (book + DVD 2013)
  • Play like Michael Fix (book + DVD 2010)
  • Noted! (2007)