🔗 Share this article

When I was just 10, I read about a feature in my hometown newspaper about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My parents had helped out at the very first contest back in 1996 – my mother handed out flyers, my dad managed the music. From that point, national championships have been organized globally, with the winners gathering in Oulu every summer.

At the time, I inquired with my family if I could participate. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They thought it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was determined.

As a kid, I was always miming air guitar, pretending to play to the biggest rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. My family were lovers of music – my dad loved Springsteen and U2. the Australian rockers was the first band I discovered on my own. Angus Young, the guitar hero, was my hero.

As I took the stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The audience started yelling “Angus”, similar to the concert version, and it dawned on me: this is what it feels like to be a guitar hero. I reached the championship, competing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was hooked. I was dubbed “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a adjudicator one year, and opened for the show once more, but I didn’t compete. I came back at 18, tested out several stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and choose “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve qualified for the last round every year since 2022, and in 2023 I came second, so I was determined to win this year.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. It may seem funny, but it’s a real philosophy.

The competition itself is high-energy yet fun. Contestants have one minute to put their all – dynamic presence, precise mimicry, rock star charisma – on an nonexistent axe. Judges score you on a grading system from 4.0 to 6.0. In the case of a tie, there’s an “air-off” between the last two competitors: a track is selected and you improvise.

Getting ready is key. I picked an Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I had it on repeat for multiple weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my limbs loose enough to leap, my hands fast enough to copy riffs and my back ready for those gestures and hops. By the time the event came, I could feel the song in my bones.

After everyone had performed, the scores came in, and I had tied with the winner from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was moment for an tiebreaker. We went head-to-head to that classic rock anthem by the iconic band. As the music started, I felt comforted because it was familiar to me, and more than anything I was so excited to perform one more time. As they declared I’d triumphed, the area erupted.

The moment is hazy. I think I zoned out from shock. Then everyone started singing Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World and lifted me on to their arms. A former champion – also known as his performer title – a previous titleholder and one of my closest friends, was embracing me. I wept. I was the first Finnish air guitar global winner in 25 years. The earlier winner from Finland, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was in attendance as well. He gave me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “about damn time”.

Our global network is like a family. The phrase we live by is “Make air, not war”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a real philosophy. Participants come from many countries, and everyone is supportive and encouraging. Prior to performing, every competitor offers an embrace. Then for a brief period you’re able to be uninhibited, playful, the top performer in the world.

Additionally, I am a drummer and musician in a group with my sibling called the Southgates, named after the football manager, as we’re fans of Britpop and new wave. I’ve been bartending for a few years now, and I create short films and song visuals. The victory hasn’t altered my routine significantly but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I aspire it results in more creative work. Oulu will be a designated cultural center next year, so there are great prospects.

At present, I’m just grateful: for the group, for the opportunity to play, and for that budding enthusiast who picked up a newspaper and thought, “I'd love to try that.”