Airway To Heaven - Who Will Be Crowned The UK's Greatest Air Guitarist?

Online, March 24, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Gurning, bog snorkelling, and even worm charming, the UK has its fair share of weird and wonderful competitions, and the annual Air Guitar UK Championships are no exception. Leave your musical pretensions at the door and prepare to be wowed by a crowd of oddball competitors from across the country who've raised this often frowned-upon dance floor compulsion in to an art form in its own right.

Overseeing proceedings will be a line-up of top comedians, performers and musicians, including cult fantasy author Robert Rankin, and along with the glamour and glory, the winner will receive a free trip to Finland to compete at the spectacular Air Guitar World Championships.

The competition, now in it's 8th year, will be held on Saturday May the 4th (Star Wars Day, appropriately enough) at The Dome in Tufnell Park. Tickets are £12 on the door and include a £2 donation to Teenage Cancer Trust.

About the competition:

The competition is open to anyone on the night, but you can pre-register online for a guaranteed slot on stage. The air guitarists have 60 seconds to do their stuff, either to a track from a list or to one they've brought along (the serious competitors come prepared with their own lovingly edited music, but aficionados know this isn't always necessary for a winning performance).

The performances are scored by a panel of three judges and the top five go through to the final round where they each perform to the same surprise track. Ties are decided by 'air-off' and the winner goes home triumphant in the knowledge that he or she is the greatest air guitarist in the land. The party continues late in to the night with music and 'aireoke' (that's air guitar karaoke) and more entertainment yet to be announced.

With some absurdly funny and genuinely impressive performances, this is a night out sure to win round even the most die-hard of cynics, and over the course of a few drinks you'll go from bewildered and bemused to fighting for a place on stage!

"It's impossible to be angry and play air guitar. Air guitar is the last pure art form. There's no sponsorship. No one does it for the money. It's about going out there and expressing yourself."
- The AGWC Champion 2001 & 2002 Zac Monro, The Times 27/8/2002

"An imaginary guitar, the 'air guitar' is the master's instrument, and his art is to look as cool and rock star-like as possible while 'playing'. Standing on stage, with the stage lights flickering, the music exploding from the speakers and 3500 people cheering and screaming, and then simply letting go and surfing on one's air guitar, is about the closest you can get to being a rock star if you're not."
- Tiscali Europe, 23/8/2003