🔗 Share this article

At the age of 10, I read about a article in my hometown newspaper about the Global Air Guitar Contest, held annually every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had helped out at the very first contest since 1996 – my mum handed out flyers, my dad managed the music. Since then, national championships have been organized globally, with the winners gathering in Oulu each August.

Back then, I asked my parents if I could enter. They weren't sure at first; the competition was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They believed it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was set on it.

In my youth, I was always miming air guitar, acting out to the biggest rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. My parents were lovers of music – my father loved Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the Australian rockers 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 that classic track. The audience started shouting “Angus”, reminiscent of the live recording, and it hit me: this must be to be a guitar hero. I reached the championship, competing to hundreds of people in the public plaza, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a judge one year, and opened for the show on another occasion, but I stayed out of the contest. I returned at 18, experimented with various stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and choose “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve qualified for the last round every year since 2022, and in 2023 I came second, so I was set to win this year.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. The saying we live by is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It sounds silly, but it’s a real philosophy.

The contest is intense but joyful. Competitors have 60 seconds to put their all – explosive energy, perfect mime, rock star charisma – on an imaginary instrument. Adjudicators score you on a point range from a specific numeric range. In the case of a tie, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the last two competitors: a track is selected and you improvise.

Training is crucial. I selected an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my act. I played it repeatedly for weeks. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my limbs flexible enough to bound, my fingers fast enough to imitate guitar parts and my upper body ready for those moves and leaps. When the big day came, I could sense the music in my soul.

Once all acts were done, the results were tallied, and I had matched with the titleholder from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was occasion for an final showdown. We faced off to the Guns N’ Roses hit by Guns N’ Roses. Once the track began, I felt relieved because it was familiar to me, and primarily I was so excited to perform one more time. Once the results were read I’d won, the area exploded.

The moment is hazy. I think I lost consciousness from the excitement. Then all present started performing the classic tune the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and raised me up on to their backs. A former champion – alias his performer title – a previous titleholder and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I cried. I was Finland’s first air guitar international titleholder in 25 years. The prior titleholder, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was also present. He bestowed upon me the biggest hug and said it was “finally happening”.

This worldwide group is like a close-knit group. The phrase we live by is “Make air, not war”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a real philosophy. People come from many countries, and everyone is supportive and encouraging. Before you go on stage, each contestant offers an embrace. Then for 60 seconds you’re able to be uninhibited, playful, 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 Southgates, referencing the sports figure, as we’re influenced by UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been working in bars for a couple of years, and I create mini movies and song visuals. The title hasn’t altered my routine drastically but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I hope it brings more creative work. My hometown will be a designated cultural center the coming year, so there are promising opportunities.

At present, I’m just grateful: for the community, for the ability to compete, and for that budding enthusiast who found a story and thought, “I'd love to try that.”