Comic competes in UK championship

She’s already conquered the world of comedy – now Sam Nicoresti is hoping to become a champion in another field. Air guitar.

The Edinburgh Comedy Award winner will be thrashing her imaginary axe to Van Halen's Eruption at the UK national championships on Saturday, Chortle can reveal. 

And if she’s successful, she’ll be flown to the European Capital of Culture, Oulu in Finland, to represent the nation at the world championships in August.

Speaking about her involvement in the competition – which has the slogan ‘make air, not war’ – Nicoresti told Chortle: ‘To perform at the Air Guitar World Championships has been a deep dream for several years. I'm honoured to be involved in a competition that holds world peace as its core aim, and to be surrounded by the incredible talent, creativity, and community that air guitar inspires. 

‘I rock as an act of defiance, to stick a flying V up in the face of convention, pirouette flawlessly, and execute a blister-inducing solo. Thankfully this year has been quite quiet for me, so I've had plenty of time to prepare and train…’

This is only the second time the UK has had its own air guitar championships. One took place in 2019, but was not been repeated due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now Piers Burnell, from Henley-on-Thames, who competed in the world championships last year with a medley of James Bond songs, has revived the event. 

Tickets to the UK final, being held in Camden, North London, on Saturday, are available here.

Here is the original Eruption, recorded in 1978 and widely regarded to be one of the greatest guitar solos of all time: 

Published: 22 Jun 2026