I Became the Air Guitar Global Winner
When I was just 10, I came across a article in my local paper about the Global Air Guitar Contest, that happens every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had helped out at the pioneering contest since 1996 – mom gave out flyers, dad organized the music. Ever since, country-level contests have been staged all across the world, with the winners gathering in Oulu every summer.
At the time, I requested permission if I could enter. They weren't sure at first; the competition was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They felt it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was determined.
During childhood, I was always performing air guitar, acting out to the iconic rock tunes with my invisible instrument. Mom and Dad were lovers of music – my father loved Springsteen and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the original act I found independently. the lead guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my idol.
As I took the stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s that classic track. The audience started chanting “Angus”, similar to the concert version, and it struck me: so this is to be a rock star. I made it to the finals, competing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was captivated. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.
Then I took a break. I was a adjudicator one year, and opened for the show another time, but I didn't participate. I went back at 18, experimented with various stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I embraced it and adopt “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve qualified for the last round every year since 2022, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was set to take the title this year.
Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our motto is ‘Make air, not war’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.
The event is competitive but uplifting. Participants have 60 seconds to deliver maximum effort – high-powered performance, precise mimicry, rock star charisma – on an nonexistent axe. Judges score you on a scale from four to six. In the case of a tie, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the last two competitors: a tune begins and you improvise.
Training is crucial. I chose an Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I listened to it on a loop for a long time. I stretched constantly, trying to get my lower body prepared enough to leap, my hands quick enough to mimic solos and my upper body ready for those moves and leaps. Once the big day came, I could internalize the track in my soul.
Once all acts were done, the scores came in, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was occasion for an tiebreaker. We competed directly to the Guns N’ Roses hit by Guns N’ Roses. When I heard the song, I felt relieved because it was one that I knew, and more than anything I was so eager to have another go. As they declared I’d won, the area went wild.
The moment is hazy. I think I lost consciousness from shock. Then the crowd started chanting the classic tune that well-known track and hoisted me on to their shoulders. A former champion – AKA his stage name – a previous titleholder and one of my closest friends, was holding me. I shed tears. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The prior titleholder, the earlier victor, was in attendance as well. He offered me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “finally happening”.
Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our motto is “Make air, not war”. It sounds silly, but it’s a true way of life. Participants come from all over the world, and everyone is positive and uplifting. Before you go on stage, all participants shows support. Then for one minute you’re allowed to be uninhibited, silly, the biggest rock star in the world.
I’m also a drummer and musician in a musical act with my brother called the group title, referencing the football manager, as we’re fans of UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been working in bars for a few years now, and I produce short films and music videos. The victory hasn’t affected my daily activities drastically but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I wish it leads to more artistic projects. Oulu will be a European capital of culture soon, so there are exciting things ahead.
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 want to do that.”