🔗 Share this article

Back when I was 10, I read about a story in my local paper about the Air Guitar World Championships, which take place every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My family had participated at the pioneering contest since 1996 – my mother handed out flyers, my dad sorted the music. From that point, national championships have been organized in many nations, with the winners gathering in Oulu every summer.

Back then, I inquired with my family if I could compete. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They believed it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was set on it.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, miming along to the iconic rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. My family were enthusiasts – my dad loved Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the band AC/DC was the first band I stumbled upon myself. Angus Young, the lead guitarist, was my hero.

When I stepped on stage, I performed my act to AC/DC’s the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The spectators started yelling “Angus”, similar to the concert version, and it hit me: so this is to be a music icon. I reached the championship, competing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was captivated. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a judge one year, and started the show another time, but I didn’t compete. I came back at 18, tested out several stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I embraced it and make “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve made it to the final every year since 2022, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was set to take the title this year.

The air guitar community is like a support system. The saying we live by is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It may seem funny, but it’s a true ethos.

The contest is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have a short window to deliver maximum effort – explosive energy, flawless imitation, performance charm – on an invisible guitar. The panel evaluate you on a grading system from 4.0 to 6.0. If scores are equal, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the final two contestants: a song plays and you freestyle.

Preparation is everything. I selected an a metal group song for my routine. I listened to it on a loop for weeks. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my legs prepared enough to leap, my fingers nimble enough to copy riffs and my back set for those moves and leaps. When the big day arrived, I could feel the song in my being.

After everyone had performed, the results were tallied, and I had drawn with the titleholder from Japan, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was occasion for an air-off. We competed directly to the Guns N’ Roses hit by Guns N’ Roses. Once the track began, I felt comforted because it was one that I knew, and more than anything I was so thrilled to play again. As they declared I’d won, the venue exploded.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I blacked out from shock. Then everyone started performing the classic tune Rockin’ in the Free World and hoisted me on to their shoulders. One of the greats – also known as Nordic Thunder – a former champion and one of my closest friends, was holding me. I shed tears. I was Finland’s first air guitar international titleholder in 25 years. The prior titleholder, the former champion, was there, too. He offered me the warmest embrace and said it was “long overdue”.

The air guitar community is like a support system. Our motto is “Make air, not war”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a real philosophy. Participants come from globally, and all involved is helpful and motivating. Prior to performing, every competitor offers an embrace. Then for 60 seconds you’re able to be uninhibited, silly, the ultimate music icon in the world.

I’m also a percussionist and musician in a band with my sibling called the group title, referencing the football manager, as we’re inspired by UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been bartending for a few years now, and I direct short films and performance clips. The victory hasn’t affected my daily activities significantly but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I hope it leads to more innovative opportunities. Oulu will be a designated cultural center next year, so there are promising opportunities.

At present, I’m just grateful: for the group, for the ability to compete, and for that young child who picked up a newspaper and thought, “That's for me.”