To play — nay, to shred — a stringed instrument is a hallowed art form, but the truest and highest level of this art is not in the music borne into existence by skill and time-honed perfection... it is the sheer majesty of how well you can rock out with no instrument at all. The Finns, in their wise and mystical ways, knew this to be true and have long upheld the grand traditions of Air Guitar.
Wolf’s Head Film honors this spirit with the Michigan Air Guitar Exhibition in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—the only air guitar competition in the UP and likely all of Michigan. Born from our love of cinema and spectacle (and a tendency to not take ourselves too seriously), this pairing of film and fury exists because, well… why is a movie nonprofit doing this? We just can’t help ourselves.
Movies, might, and magic collide in a midsummer celebration of Finnish heritage and unhinged stagecraft. Competitors from across the region are invited to prove their might on The Orpheum stage, vying for cash prizes, glory, and eternal air-shredding prestige. There is also hope to align with the official Air Guitar World Championships qualifying path to Oulu, Finland.
Rules & Important Information
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Competition begins at 9:00 PM following the free screening. Competitors are encouraged to attend the film and soak up the atmosphere before taking the stage.
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Each competitor will perform one 60-second routine to a song of their choosing.
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Costumes, makeup, stage personas, and props are highly encouraged. However, no physical object may be used as an instrument. Your guitar must remain entirely imaginary.
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Air roadies and support crews are welcome to participate in your entrance and stage theatrics, but must clear the stage before your performance begins.
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Competitors will be judged by a panel of distinguished Keweenaw locals representing music, business, arts, and community leadership.
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Contestants will not be judged on musical accuracy.
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Contestants will be judged on stage presence, commitment, movement, energy, interpretation of the music, technical airness, and overall ability to convince the audience that they are witnessing rock history.
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Scores are awarded on a scale of 4.0 to 6.0. These are the official Finnish Air Guitar scoring standards. We don't make the rules. Finland does.
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The top-scoring competitors will advance to a Compulsory Round.
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During the Compulsory Round, finalists will perform to a mystery song selected by event organizers. Competitors will hear the song once as a group before taking the stage.
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Final scores will be determined by averaging the scores from both rounds.
Prizes
First Place — $500 cash and permanent glory on the Michigan Air Guitar Exhibition championship plaque.
Second Place — $100 cash.
Third Place — $50 cash.
Most Important Rule
Have fun. This is the Upper Peninsula's first air guitar competition, and possibly the first time in regional history that invisible guitars have been treated with the respect they deserve.
Musicians and mere mortals alike are welcome. The instrument is optional. The attitude is not.
