Author: admin

  • Burgess Charlie Abel

    Burgess Charlie Abel

    Charlie Abel Burgess

    Dean of Guild, Colin Taylor welcomes Charlie Abel
    Wow.
    I was very honoured to be received as a Free Burgess and Guild Member of the City and Burgh of Aberdeen on the 15th of August 2015.  I’m told it’s the highest honour the city can bestow on a citizen so I’m really really humbled.  I look forward to being an active member of the Burgess and doing all I can to help the city I love dearly.
    Don’t think I’ll be required to bear arms and shoot invaders from the city gates anymore… But I’ll do what I can with my trusty squeeze box and i look forward to driving my cattle or sheep down Union Street. 😉

    ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_the_City_of_Aberdeen

  • Iron Broo Ceilidh – Music Hall Aberdeen

    Iron Broo Ceilidh – Music Hall Aberdeen

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    Iron Broo will be playing a live ceilidh at the Aberdeen music hall on Friday 11th of September 2015.  Be sure to get your dancing shoes looked out and get your tickets in advance.
    Please come along and support one of the hardest working, popular ceilidh bands in Scotland.
  • Iron Broo Ceilidh at Marischall College, Aberdeen

    Iron Broo Ceilidh at Marischall College, Aberdeen

    Friday 4th September – 7.30pm till 9.30pm

    A night of Scottish Ceilidh dancing with Aberdeen based band Iron Broo.
    Iron Broo have played their Scottish music far and wide, they have often been seen at well known festivals such as T in the Park, Glassel, and many a folk festival. Join them now at the 50+ festival. Tickets available also for younger ages.
    A fantastic ceilidh with a legendary band in an iconic Aberdeen venue.

    Licensed Bar
    Tickets £10
    Stovies / Macaroni Tea/Coffee included

    Advance tickets available from Teresa on 07766510718
    Or on the door if available.

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  • If you missed us on Sunday….here we are.

    Celebrate Aberdeen Festival – 2015.

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  • Celebrate Aberdeen 2015

    If you are in Aberdeen this weekend, take a look at Union Terrace gardens.
    There will be great bands and entertainment as part of the celebrate Aberdeen festival.  Iron Broo will be on stage in Union Terrace Gardens at 4pm on Sunday 23rd August.  Hope to see you there….

  • We’ve moved to a .scot address

    We’ve moved to a .scot address

    We have now moved our website from a ‘.co.uk’ to a ‘.scot’  website address.
    This has not been such an easy task and I have encountered a few problems in doing so. I have also noted that it is quite amazing that many web forms that I try to fill in still do not recognise the ‘.scot’ extension as a valid email address.  It’s a bit like trying to exchange a Scottish tenner in England or abroad….. Please use a valid email! its says in red. Or – NOT A VALID CURRENCY?  Automatically blood pressure starts rising in anticipated defence…

    I am still working both email addresses and looking forward to hopefully getting less spam in the new email address. I am getting around 1000 emails a day and the junk filters are often flagging legitimate emails as spam.  I think the new .scot address will help with that for the near future at least.
    If any one has any problem contacting me with email please call me.
    I do my best to respond to emails ASAP – usually within hours unless it’s been lost in the sea of spam.

    Charlie

  • New live video clip

    New live video clip

    A live Gay Gordons.

    Here’s a live ceilidh video clip we were given by a friend of ours who was at a wedding we played at in Nairn, on the 10th April 2015.  It was at the Newton Hotel.  It was a great night. The guests were excellent.
    Excuse the slight distortion on the audio.  The set was for a Gay Gordons after the first dance at a wedding. 

  • Still at the top

    Still at the top

    Iron Broo are still going strong on FreeIndex.

     Our reviews have kept us at the top in their number 1 spot of over 550 UK bands for a few years now. It’s a testament to the hard work we put in. I enjoy every minute of it.  Scottish wedding entertainment has become our speciality. Even when you think you know what you are doing you learn something new.  Things develop and evolve.  I notice lots of band’s claim to be ‘the best in Scotland’ or ‘top ceilidh band’.  I don’t really care about that boastful stuff. It’s very false. We love what we do and people see it when we play. Our customers and fans (both of them) know we are a good band and our third party reviews say it all.

    New high spec speakers.

    We’ve just ordered a new front of house speaker set up. A very expensive modern design by JBL with a ‘3-way’ speaker cabinet.  This will bring our sound further into the high end of the sonic spectrum. It should help with the set up times and will look and sound really expensive!  I canna wait to try them out.
    Thanks to Sandy Cheyne for this caricature he drew during a gig at the Blue Lamp.
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    Live Portrait – By Sandy Cheyne
  • The Dark Island request

    I had a request a while ago to upload this tune to YouTube. It’s probably the most requested tune an accordion player gets in Scotland. I’m about to take apart my studio and fit some windows and a new Eco-friendly  heating system which will take me some time and cause a lot of disruption but it will all be worth it in the end…I tell myself.  The next video i record will show the shiny new studio with light!  No more will I be playing in the shadows!
  • Celebrate Aberdeen – 30th August 2014

    Union Terrace Gardens. In Aberdeen. In the rain. A great gig and we were very proud to be a part of the event. It’s a great idea and it should become a regular thing in the summer. It would be great for the city. Aberdeen is screaming out for it. Using our beloved Union Terrace gardens for something that benefits the city. I’m so glad it hasn’t been turned into a multilevel car park and that the council have taken on board what an asset it really can be for it’s citizens.  The international market with it’s stalls and food from around the world was excellent as well. It was packed with people.  Edinburgh does this sort of thing all the time and they have the same weather we do in Aberdeen. It’s high time we had more of it! It’s great to see families being able to spend a day together in our town centre.
Richard Minton
2 weeks ago
Had a great nights entertainment with Iron Broo, great ceilidh and then some floor fillers with the disco.
Response from the owner:Thanks Richard, we had a great time, hope to see you both again sometime
We had the honour of the Iron Broo ceilidh band perform at our wedding on 16th May, they were outstanding. Talented, organised and such a lovely bunch of guys
Response from the owner:Thanks Ellen, we really enjoyed playing for you. Such a lovely evening. And thanks for your kind hospitality. All the best 👍
Andrew Turner
12 months ago
We hired Iron Broo to play our ceilidh at a party to celebrate our recent marriage. The band were great, played a good variety of ceilidh tunes, called the dances and incorporated some impressive rhythmic vocals alongside playing. All the guest had a great time and enjoyed the ceilidh - thanks a lot!
Adam Barrie
1 year ago
We booked Iron Broo Ceilidh Band for our wedding in July 2025 and had a fantastic evening with them. The band were highly experienced and helped everyone get involved in the dancing. I would highly recommend them for any Ceilidh event.
Aylwin Pillai
1 year ago
Iron Broo played for our very first wedding at Kinclune House & Estate in our brand new wedding barn. Iron Broo were absolutely brilliant! The wedding party were up and dancing all night. Half of them were not Scottish, so Charlie did a great job of calling so that everyone could join in. I can't recommend Iron Broo highly enough if you're planning a wedding or special celebration!
Response from the owner:Thanks Aylwin, it was an honour to be your first band! We look forward to the next time, the new venue is amazing and the staff were so kind and attentive. Everyone was raving about the place. I'm sure you are going to be busy! All the best, Charlie
Jac Balden
2 years ago
Iron Broo recently played a ceilidh and disco for our wedding. Charlie was easy to deal and answered all our questions very quickly. Both the ceilidh and the disco were very well received with the guests of our wedding complementing the band and the music.
Amy Abel
2 years ago
We booked Iron Broo for our wedding at Mar Lodge in Braemar in July and they were fantastic! We had a very international group with about half the guests having travelled from New Zealand and Charlie was great at calling the dances and everyone had a a lot of fun, even the teenagers loved it! Thanks Iron Broo!
Response from the owner:Thanks Amy. Great fun playing for you and really nice to meet more of the Abel clan 👍
Jenna
3 years ago
We hired the Iron Broo duo for a charity ceilidh in February 2024 and they had everyone up on their feet until the very end! Thank you so much for a fantastic evening with your band - lots of classics and few special twists which made for a super fun evening. Would definitely recommend Iron Broo and hire again in the future!
Response from the owner:Thanks very much Jenna, it was great fun to play for you! All the best, Charlie
Keri Bailie
3 years ago
Iron Broo played at our wedding ceilidh, playing an array of instruments and gave instructions for each dance. Excellent band who were very flexible, cheerful and skilled. Highly recommended.
Response from the owner:Thanks Keri, much appreciated. We had a great time and enjoyed every minute, it was a pleasure to be a part of your special day.
alex bruce
3 years ago
The Iron Broo Duo threw us a fantastic party to celebrate our wedding in September. They happily accommodated some very last minute changes and executed a little surprise absolutely perfectly! They had a great sense of humour when some of the dances didn't go to plan (no fault of the band, entirely the fault of the beer!) and soon had us back on track. A brilliant band to hire if you want to have lots and lots of fun!
Peter Lancaster
3 years ago
From the moment we started to plan our wedding, we knew we wanted Iron Broo! With my wife having attended a few of their ceilidhs in the past, she told me that Iron Broo were the best ceilidh band she'd ever seen. Of course at first, with our wedding being my first ceilidh, I was a little bit nervous but I trusted her with this and I can say I am truly glad that I did. We couldn't have asked for anything more, the music and dancing was incredible (as per usual). Many of our guests had also never attended a ceilidh before, but they made the process of learning all the steps easy and everyone ended up having an amazing time (myself included. ) They were also extremely accommodating, able to play a requested song for our first dance with less than a weeks notice! Thank you so much Iron Broo! It was a pleasure to have you at our wedding and we will be sure to catch you at future events.
Response from the owner:Thanks Peter, it was a pleasure to play for your special day. We had a great time and everyone was wonderful. See you soon, Charlie 👍
Paul Mckee
3 years ago
They recently played at our wedding on 4th November 23 and were fantastic! A lot of guests had never been to a ceilidh before and they all really enjoyed it, especially the kids! We highly recommend Iron Broo!
Jenna Forrest
3 years ago
We hired the Iron Broo duo for a corporate ceilidh and they had everyone up on their feet until the very end! Thank you so much Charlie for performing for us - everyone had a fantastic evening with your band. Would definitely recommend Iron Broo and hire again in the future!
Response from the owner:Thanks Jenna, for a lovely review and we had great fun playing for you. Hope to see you again soon 👍
Helen Shiach
3 years ago
Iron Broo are well worth hiring for a special celebration. Great musicians who know how to get everyone involved. Caller ensured everyone knew what to do and they were happy to keep it fast & furious when no one knew how to waltz! If you are thinking of having a ceilidh I would highly recommend hiring them.
Response from the owner:Thanks Helen, much appreciated. We had a great time playing for you 😄 All the best 👍
Ian & Kathy Davy
3 years ago
Iron Broo played at our family and friends ceilidh in July. It was a two piece band - talented musicians who played in varying styles. Iron Broo chose the dances - a mix of traditional and new ceilidh dances. The explanations of the dances were very clear. Many of our guests commented on how good Iron Broo were. We would definitely recommend them.
Response from the owner:Thanks Ian & Kathy, we loved playing for you! It was a pleasure, your family and friends were great fun. All the best 🪗😊
Cathy Davidson
3 years ago
Iron Broo made a perfect day even better, they had everyone up dancing and mixing, from 3 year olds upwards. Guests who had never been to a ceilidh before had the best time and plenty of laughs trying to get the moves right. We highly recommend them to get the party started
Response from the owner:Thanks Cathy 👍 we had a great time. Much appreciated
Robin Johnson
3 years ago
Hired for ceilidh at Wedding, very accomodating and friendly. Played a requested tune for our first dance. Called/instructed on the dances which was very necessary and useful for people unfamiliar. Flexible on day when time for break and end called. Hired 4 players including a fiddle and sounded great! Had heard play before, and look forward to hearing again.
Response from the owner:Thanks Robin and Chen, it was ace fun playing for you both 👍 all the best ❤️
Chantal Gluting
4 years ago
They came all the way to Luxembourg to do a ceilidh with our Year 8 students and it was simply fantastic! They really motivated our students to take part in the dancing and the students ended up loving it! Thank you so much again! It was a great event!
David Márquez
4 years ago
They are very very good musicians who are masters of their style, but please understand they are not a versatile band and I am sure that is why they are the cream of the cream of ceilidh, however Charlie really takes advantage of his disco choice to make the night round. He adapted to my needs and I am happy to have decided to hire his services.
Response from the owner:Thanks David, it was great to play for you and I really enjoyed the Venezuelan music “crazy hour” 👍🎶
Juliet Buchan
4 years ago
The best Ceilidh band ever, our whole wedding was jumping from start to finish. My English relatives couldn't get enough of the dancing and were guided so well. Thoroughly recommend Charlie Abel and all of his brilliant 5 piece band.
Response from the owner:Thanks Juliet, it was a pleasure to be a part of your special day. It was great fun with excellent company. 🎶🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🥰
Alistair Moore
4 years ago
Great set and game for a fantastic scout ceilidh
Annette McArthur
4 years ago
The band (two piece) were absolutely brilliant. They were all set up in good time and the music was fantastic. Charlie called the dances where needed - everyone had an absolute ball! Thanks a million.
Response from the owner:Thanks Annette, it was great fun. A super audience to play for. I hope we can play for you again sometime, any excuse for a Ceilidh 🎶👍🪗🎶🙏🏼
Amazing wedding band!! Played both a ceilidh set and disco afterparty. Listened to all my crazy plans and created an awesome evening for all my guests. Super value for money and really easy to communicate with.
Response from the owner:Thanks Kaitlyn! We had a great time, your guests were ace fun to play for! All the best, Charlie
Sarah Sophie
4 years ago
absolutely amazing!! the dances and the music of the duo was the best and we loved every minute of the time we had! They were also the nicest people ever
Response from the owner:Thanks 😊 so glad you enjoyed it, thanks for a lovely review 👍🤩
Chrissie Grant
4 years ago
We were lucky enough to have Iron Broo play for us at our wedding, where half the guests were Scottish and experienced ceilidh and reeling dancers and the other half were German and had no idea what was going on! The fact that Iron Broo got EVERYONE on the dance floor and partaking enthusiastically in both Scottish and German dances is a testament to their legendary music and DJ'ing! The evening simply wouldn't have been the same without them. Thank you so much Iron Broo for making our multi-national wedding such a cracking party!
Response from the owner:Thanks Chrissie, it was a pleasure to play for you, everybody was so keen to dance. The German Knoten disco was also such fun. Please let us know if we can help you again. We have played in Germany before, quite a few times for weddings. If you can find another excuse for a ceilidh.... :-)