I Became the Air Guitar Global Winner
When I was just 10, I discovered a story in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, that happens every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had helped out at the very first contest back in 1996 – my mum gave out flyers, dad organized the music. Ever since, national championships have been staged all across the world, with the titleholders gathering in Oulu every summer.
Back then, I asked my parents if I could enter. Initially they had doubts; the show was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They thought it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was determined.
In my youth, I was always miming air guitar, miming along to the most popular rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My family were enthusiasts – my father loved The Boss and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the original act I discovered on my own. the lead guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my hero.
As I took the stage, I performed my act to AC/DC’s that classic track. The spectators started yelling “Angus”, similar to the album track, and it struck me: this is what it feels like to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, playing to crowds in the public plaza, and I was addicted. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.
Later I paused. I was a judge one year, and opened for the show another time, but I didn’t compete. I came back at 18, tested out several stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and choose “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve reached the finals annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was set to claim victory this year.
The worldwide group is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.
The competition itself is intense but joyful. Participants have a short window to give everything – high-powered performance, precise mimicry, stage magnetism – on an invisible guitar. Judges rate you on a grading system from a specific numeric range. If scores are equal, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the final two contestants: a tune begins and you create on the spot.
Getting ready is key. I chose an a metal group song for my performance. I played it repeatedly for weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my limbs prepared enough to bound, my digits quick enough to imitate guitar parts and my upper body ready for those gestures and hops. When the big day dawned, I could sense the music in my soul.
After everyone had performed, the points were announced, and I had tied with the Japanese champion, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was moment for an air-off. We competed directly to the Guns N’ Roses hit by Guns N’ Roses. Once the track began, I felt comforted because it was one that I knew, and more than anything I was so eager to have another go. As they declared I’d triumphed, the square exploded.
My memory is blurry. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then the crowd started singing Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World and hoisted me on to their backs. A former champion – also known as his stage name – a previous titleholder and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I shed tears. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar international titleholder in a quarter-century. The previous Finnish champion, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He gave me the warmest embrace 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 sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief. Competitors come from many countries, and everyone is supportive and encouraging. As you prepare to compete, every competitor shows support. Then for one minute you’re free to be yourself, humorous, the biggest rock star in the world.
I’m also a percussionist and string player in a musical act with my brother called the Southgates, named after the sports figure, as we’re fans of UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been bartending for a couple of years, and I direct independent videos and music videos. The victory hasn’t altered my routine drastically but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I aspire it brings more innovative opportunities. My hometown will be a European capital of culture next year, so there are promising opportunities.
At present, I’m just thankful: for the network, for the ability to compete, and for that budding enthusiast who found a story and thought, “That's for me.”
