Eilidh's Daily Ukulele Ceilidh draws to a close

Published on Wednesday 26 December 2007 09:55

PERFORMER Eilidh MacAskill is approaching the end of her unique year-long challenge – to play a ukulele ceilidh every day throughout 2007.

Ms MacAskill hopes to develop a show based around her experiences over the past year that she may take to the Edinburgh festival in 2008.

During the year she has crossed the globe to play gigs and won fans around the world while carrying out her quest.

With no need for a formal stage Ms MacAskill has played everywhere from small island airports to city centre squares under the banner of Eilidh's Daily Ukulele Ceilidh.

And if she cannot find any people to play to she strums away to her cat, recording the results for her internet blog.

Ms MacAskill, 27, came up with the project to ensure she did something creative every day of 2007.

She said: "It has really helped me be more creative.

"It has been fun setting up gigs though it may happen that I don't have anything lined up.

"But the rule I've honed it down to is that I have to play in front of a living entity.

"At the worst it's just me and the cat in the house. The cat doesn't like ukulele music, but she's getting used to it."

Each performance is different but includes songs Ms MacAskill has composed herself, supplemented by covers of popular songs and some Scottish tunes.

As well as playing in conventional venues, the 27-year-old is always ready to pull out her ukulele for a spontaneous show.

She has played to surprised passengers waiting for a plane on the Hebridean island of Islay, and has persuaded passers-by to dance jigs and reels in Glasgow's George Square.