🔗 Share this article

Back when I was 10, I read about a story in my community gazette about the World Air Guitar Competition, held annually every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had participated at the pioneering contest starting from 1996 – my mum gave out flyers, dad organized the music. Since then, domestic competitions have been held globally, with the champions gathering in Oulu every summer.

Initially, I asked my parents if I could compete. At first they were hesitant; the event was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They believed it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was set on it.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, pretending to play to the most popular rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. Mom and Dad were enthusiasts – my dad loved Springsteen and U2. the Australian rockers was the original act I found independently. Angus Young, the guitar hero, was my idol.

Upon entering the spotlight, I did my routine to AC/DC’s that classic track. The audience started shouting “Angus”, reminiscent of the concert version, and it hit me: so this is to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, competing to hundreds of people in the public plaza, and I was addicted. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a referee one year, and started the show another time, but I didn’t compete. I went back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but fans continued using “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 determined to claim victory this year.

Our global network is like a support system. Our guiding principle is ‘Create music, not conflict’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a true ethos.

The contest is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have 60 seconds to put their all – explosive energy, perfect mime, stage magnetism – on an invisible guitar. Judges score you on a point range from 4.0 to 6.0. When it's a draw, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the last two competitors: a track is selected and you freestyle.

Getting ready is key. I chose an a metal group song for my performance. I played it repeatedly for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my limbs prepared enough to jump, my fingers quick enough to copy riffs and my back set for those gestures and hops. Once competition day came, I could feel the song in my being.

Once all acts were done, the scores came in, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was occasion for an air-off. We went head-to-head to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the rock group. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was one that I knew, and above all I was so excited to have another go. When they announced I’d emerged victorious, the venue went wild.

My memory is blurry. I think I blacked out from shock. Then everyone started chanting the classic tune Rockin’ in the Free World and raised me up on to their shoulders. A former champion – AKA his stage name – a former champion and one of my best pals, was embracing me. I wept. I was the first Finnish air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The prior titleholder, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, 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 “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a true way of life. People come from globally, and each person is helpful and motivating. Before you go on stage, every competitor shows support. Then for a brief period you’re able to be uninhibited, humorous, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a beat keeper and string player in a band with my sibling called the group title, referencing the sports figure, as we’re influenced by British music genres. I’ve been serving drinks for a couple of years, and I produce independent videos and performance clips. Winning hasn’t altered my routine too much but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I aspire it brings more creative work. My hometown will be a European capital of culture soon, so there are great prospects.

Currently, I’m just thankful: for the group, for the ability to compete, and for that little kid who read an article and thought, “I want to do that.”