OULU, Finland (AP) — Passionate performers are lining up in Finland to pluck musical honors out of thin air.

This year’s Air Guitar World Championships reach their climax with a final Friday evening on a square in the western city of Oulu. It’s the 28th edition of an event that, over its three days, brings together competitors from 13 countries.

Contestants are judged on the performance of two songs in two separate rounds, each lasting 60 seconds. Passion is a must, but much of the rest is up to the contenders. Props and costumes are allowed, but backup bands and real instruments are off-limits.

The two-hour final pits last year’s winner, Canada’s Zachary “Ichabod Fame” Knowles, against eight national champions and seven contenders who emerged from the qualifying rounds. The challengers

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