I Became the Air Guitar Global Winner

At the age of 10, I discovered a article in my hometown newspaper about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. My parents had helped out at the inaugural contest starting from 1996 – my mum gave out flyers, my dad organized the music. From that point, domestic competitions have been held all across the world, with the titleholders assembling in Oulu annually.

Back then, I inquired with my family if I could participate. At first they were hesitant; the event was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They thought it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was resolved.

In my youth, I was always performing air guitar, miming along to the biggest rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. My family were music fans – my father loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the first band I stumbled upon myself. the guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my inspiration.

When I stepped on stage, I did my routine to AC/DC’s the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The audience started chanting “Angus”, just like the concert version, and it dawned on me: this is what it feels like to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, playing to a large audience in the public plaza, and I was hooked. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a referee one year, and opened for the show another time, but I didn't participate. I came back at 18, tested out several stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and make “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve qualified for the last round every year since 2022, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was determined to take the title this year.

The air guitar community is like a family. The saying we live by is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It may seem funny, but it’s a real philosophy.

The event is intense but joyful. Participants have 60 seconds to give everything – explosive energy, flawless imitation, rock star charisma – on an invisible guitar. Adjudicators rate you on a grading system from a specific numeric range. If scores are equal, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a tune begins and you create on the spot.

Getting ready is key. I picked an a metal group song for my performance. I played it repeatedly for weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my lower body loose enough to leap, my hands nimble enough to mimic solos and my back prepared for those moves and leaps. When the event came, I could sense the music in my soul.

After everyone had performed, the points were announced, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was time for an final showdown. We went head-to-head to Sweet Child o’ Mine by the rock group. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was familiar to me, and more than anything I was so excited to play again. Once the results were read I’d won, the square erupted.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then all present started singing the song that well-known track and raised me up on to their backs. A former champion – AKA Nordic Thunder – a previous titleholder and one of my best pals, was holding me. I wept. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar international titleholder in two and a half decades. The previous Finnish champion, the earlier victor, was there, too. He offered me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “finally happening”.

This worldwide group is like a support system. The phrase we live by is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a true way of life. Competitors come from globally, and all involved is positive and uplifting. As you prepare to compete, all participants shows support. Then for 60 seconds you’re free to be uninhibited, silly, the ultimate music icon in the world.

Besides that, I'm a drummer and guitarist in a musical act with my family member called the band name, inspired by Gareth Southgate, as we’re inspired by British music genres. I’ve been working in bars for a few years now, and I produce short films and song visuals. The title hasn’t changed my day-to-day life drastically but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I hope it results in more artistic projects. Oulu will be a European capital of culture soon, so there are promising opportunities.

At present, I’m just thankful: for the group, for the chance to perform, and for that budding enthusiast who found a story and thought, “That's for me.”