The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Fife girl performs in sign language with Red Hot Chilli Pipers
PEOPLE: Teenager from Windygates asked to join band at Dunfermline shows
A Fife schoolgirl who taught Lewis Capaldi to sign Happy Birthday has appeared on stage with another Scottish band.
Layla Cooke, 14, was overwhelmed to be asked to join the Red Hot Chilli Pipers on stage at the Caird Hall in Dundee on Saturday, to sign along to the Tom Walker hit Leave A Light On.
The Windygates youngster, who has hearing loss and anxiety, overcame her nerves to stand next to singer Deirdre Brennan for the number.
She said: “My legs were shaking like mad but there’s a clap in sign language where you shake your hand to say well done and everyone in the audience started doing that. It was so emotional.”
The Auchmuty High pupil began learning sign language in September last year and demonstrates popular songs on her social media channels.
Her videos have won her a celebrity following, including soap actors
Matthew Wolfenden, Liam Bairstow, Jordan Young and Kate Robbins and Me Before You author Jojo Moyes.
The have also been shared by singersongwriter Eddi Reader, as well as the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
“I uploaded Leave A Light On and tagged the Chilli Pipers and they saw it and shared it then invited me to come on stage with them,” Layla said.
Her mum Suzy, dad Karl and big brother Tyler were in the audience cheering her on.
The reaction was so positive the band have now asked her to join them at their two shows at the Alhambra Theatre in Dunfermline on December 30.
They were delighted with her performance, and said: “Thank you for joining us Layla and keep up the amazing work.”
Layla previously educated Someone You Loved musician Lewis Capaldi backstage after a gig in Edinburgh and has since performed on stage at the switch-on of Perth’s Christmas lights.
Earlier this month she was recognised for her work to promote British Sign Language when she was presented with an award for outstanding achievement by Enable Scotland.