🔗 Share this article

When I was just 10, I read about a article in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, that happens every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My parents had helped out at the inaugural contest starting from 1996 – my mother gave out flyers, my dad sorted the music. Ever since, country-level contests have been staged all across the world, with the titleholders converging in Oulu each August.

Initially, I asked my parents if I could compete. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They thought it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was determined.

In my youth, I was always performing air guitar, acting out to the most popular rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. My family were lovers of music – my dad loved Bruce Springsteen and U2. AC/DC was the first band I stumbled upon myself. the lead guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my hero.

As I took the stage, I performed my act to the band's Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started chanting “Angus”, just like the album track, and it dawned on me: this is what it feels like to be a rock star. I reached the championship, playing to a large audience in the town square, and I was hooked. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a adjudicator one year, and started the show once more, but I didn't participate. I came back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and choose “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve made it to the final every year since 2022, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was set to win this year.

The air guitar community is like a support system. Our guiding principle is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It may seem funny, but it’s a genuine belief.

The contest is competitive but uplifting. Contestants have 60 seconds to deliver maximum effort – dynamic presence, precise mimicry, rock star charisma – on an imaginary instrument. Adjudicators rate you on a grading system from a specific numeric range. When it's a draw, there’s an “showdown” between the final two contestants: a tune begins and you improvise.

Training is crucial. I picked an Avenged Sevenfold song for my act. I played it repeatedly for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my legs prepared enough to leap, my digits fast enough to imitate guitar parts and my spine ready for those gestures and hops. Once the big day dawned, I could feel the song in my being.

After everyone had performed, the scores came in, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was occasion for an tiebreaker. We went head-to-head to Sweet Child o’ Mine by the iconic band. As the music started, I felt relieved because it was familiar to me, and more than anything I was so thrilled to have another go. As they declared I’d emerged victorious, the area exploded.

My memory is blurry. I think I zoned out from shock. Then all present started singing the classic tune Rockin’ in the Free World and hoisted me on to their arms. One of the greats – alias Nordic Thunder – a past winner and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I cried. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar global winner in two and a half decades. The previous Finnish champion, the former champion, 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. Our guiding saying is “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a true way of life. People come from all over the world, and all involved is helpful and motivating. Prior to performing, all participants shows support. Then for 60 seconds you’re free to be yourself, silly, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a drummer and string player in a band with my family member called the band name, named after the sports figure, as we’re inspired by Britpop and new wave. I’ve been working in bars for a few years now, and I create independent videos and music videos. Winning hasn’t changed my day-to-day life too much but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I wish it results in more artistic projects. The city will be a European capital of culture the coming year, so there are great prospects.

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