Air Guitar hall of fame Big Rig. Credit: Courtesy of Dick Diesel
It’s been a few years since the US Air Guitar competition has come through Cleveland. But this year, Cleveland will be one of more than 20 stops on the circuit.

On May 11, the Winchester Tavern will host the event that will likely feature about 20 competitors vying for a spot in the semi-finals that take place in New York on Aug. 2.

Competitors perform to a 60-second guitar edit of their favorite song. Judges then rank the performance according to “Technical Merit” (does it look like they are playing a real guitar?), “Stage Presence” (do they excite the audience and the judges?), and “Airness,” the quality of performance which transcends the imitation of a real guitar and becomes an art form all its own.

Three-time Washington D.C. Champion and Northeast Ohio native Jerrod “Dick Diesel” Dewey will host the event.

Tickets are $5 in advance, $8 at the door.

This article appears in Apr 4-10, 2018.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.