Celebrate Burns night in style on Saturday the 25th of January 2020 at the Knowes Hotel in Macduff with a traditional Burns Supper ceilidh. Since new owners Wayne and Linda took over the Knowes and reimagined the building and services on offer, this family-run hotel has developed an excellent reputation. With great reviews, fantastic sea views, attention to detail with an emphasis on local produce, a Burns ceilidh here with Iron Broo is sure to be a great Burns supper recipe. Enjoy a fabulous 2 course Burns supper, a piper, a free Dram for the toast and a fantastic Burns ceilidh with the Iron Broo Duo.
If you are new to ceilidh and have no idea what you are doing, don’t worry. We will entertain and call the dances quickly so you can take part without any experience needed. Tickets are available from the Knowes Hotel. £25pp Special rates available for rooms if you choose to stay over. Ask the hotel for details.
Musical Nostalgia Notes
Playing in the Knowes has a bit of family history for me. My Grandpa was a regular visitor there. He stayed not far from it and was a regular in the bar for many years. When I was younger, I used to visit the Macduff accordion and fiddle club with my Grandparents, which was held there in the hall. The place has changed so much since then it’s unrecognisable. It’s changed for the better in this case, that’s for sure.
My family history also comes from the same street. Market street in Macduff. My Grandpa’s side of the family lived on Market Street, for 3 or 4 generations I discovered while researching the family tree. They were pretty poor and were a large family sharing a two-room flat.
I always enjoy returning to the Knowes and look forward to the Burns Night ceilidh on Saturday the 25th of January.
See you there!
If you are interested in Booking Iron Broo Ceilidh Band for your wedding or event please get in touch through our contact page.
The Garlogie Ceilidhs were on Sunday afternoons at the Garlogie Village Hall and were well attended by people from far and wide. The hall was full of tables and there was no space left for dancing. It was more an open mic ceilidh where local personalities got up and did their party pieces. Mostly singers, musicians and storytellers. Because there wasn’t a public bar people were encouraged to bring their own food and drinks and the atmosphere was fantastic. Old and young all together in celebration of a shared culture, humour and identity.
Dae yi mind on lang lang syne?
Many moons ago I first heard this old Scottish Traditional song from Tam Reid, in the early nineties at the Garlogie Ceilidhs. Tam was well known for his Bothy Ballads and I always liked Tam. Everyone did. He was the kind of gent that personified all that was teuchter and Aberdeenshire farming. Tam’s eyes glinted almost as if he’d been born with a dram in his veins, though I can say I never saw him too drunk. I remember his white hair and dark eyebrows. He was a thick-set strong man with a gentle smile, big hands and a weather-worn red face.
When I first heard the song “Dae yi mind in lang lang syne?“, I had assumed it was a northeast bothy ballad song, but I was wrong. Its origins go back to Ayrshire or Edinburgh around 1800.
I made a YouTube video of the song using family pictures from my mum’s side.
Dae yi mind in lang lang syne?
History of the song.
The original author of this Scottish traditional song is Rev George S. Lawrie.
George was the son of a Kirkmicheal minister and studied at Edinburgh University and had been ordained in 1763 at Galston, Ayrshire. (He was to remain there for the rest of his days.) The following year in 1764, he married Mary Campbell, the daughter of a divinity Professor from St. Andrews University. – Archibald Cameron. Then, they went on to have two children and the oldest daughter was also a talented musician.
George S. Lawrie meets Robert Burns
In 1786 George had read the Kilmarnock Edition, by Robert Burns. At the same time, a young Burns was having problems in his career and as a result was thinking about giving up writing poetry altogether, fearing his words were falling on deaf ears and therefore he was considering leaving Scotland forever.
George was so impressed by the Poetry and songs from Burns he sent a copy of the works to Edinburgh to a Dr Blacklock who was known to George as an influential member of high society in Edinburgh. As a consequence, Blacklock immediately wrote back to George enthusiastically with a great passion for Burns’ works. George showed this letter to a friend Gavin, who showed it to Burns.
Sometime later, in an autobiographical letter from Burns to a Dr Moore, Burns comments about Lawrie and Blacklock.
‘I had taken the last farewell of my friends; my chest was on the road to Greenock; I had composed my last song I should ever measure in Caledonia, “The gloomy night is gathering fast” when a letter from Dr Blacklock to a friend of mine overthrew all my schemes by rousing my poetic ambition.’
Burns and Lawrie remained friends, and Burns would frequently visit the manse and stay over. Their contribution to Scottish Traditional Music, poetry and song was immense.
Without the help of Lawrie, Robert Burns may have quit his craft and Scotland would have been a more impoverished culture for it. Can you imagine Scotland with no Burns?
Nae Auld Lang Syne? No Red Red Rose? Without sleekit’ cowering beasties? Missing parcel o rogues? Oh wait, that would probably be good! 😉
Traditional Nostalgia
Generally speaking, in this song “Di yi mind in lang lang syne” I feel there is a depth of nostalgia leading to an acceptance of what is finally to come. I can imagine an old George S. Lawrie. Sitting in the manse in front of his fire, sipping a malt. Thinking back on his childhood, all the landscapes of places he played as a young boy in Perthshire, all the friends he misses who have passed on, all the hard-working farm folk who ‘rose wi the lark in the morning’.
I remember my own experiences with my family and friends and draw my comparisons. Ultimately there are people I miss, people I have lost, and as a result, I see all the same places in my memory where we once played. My generation had great fun as children. It all seems golden in my mind. In essence, it also makes me sad, because I know it will never happen again for me given I am 44, and I would get arrested for guddling in a burn now.
I fear my kids will never have such a good childhood as I enjoyed. iPads and technology seem to be strangling childhood.
More Scottish Traditional Music
Although there are some slightly different lyrics to the song on-line, I learned these from a Tam Reid recording. Visit the Iron Broo video library and see the song lyrics. This song is included on the album “A Celtic Voice”. Which is available online for download and on CD here along with other Scottish Traditional music from the past and present. Including some original tunes and songs where the PDF music of which will eventually all be available to download for free in our sheet music library.
It’s the 19th of November today. That means it’s just over a month to go before our Christmas Ceilidh at the Beach Ballroom on December 21st. Most bands are very busy at this time of the year with many weddings and Christmas party and various events and our Christmas ceilidh has become one that we look forward to every year. We know that everyone who attends is there for the ceilidh. We don’t have to encourage or persuade, the dance floor is full every time without hesitation. It’s what every band likes to see!
Iron Broo Ceilidh Band
“Sometimes in life confusion tends to arise and only dialogue of dance seems to make sense.”
We have the usual “must-have” Christmas Ceilidh party offering of stovies and macaroni lined up and it is included in the ticket prices. As consumers of many stovies, we can vouch that the Beach Ballroom proudly offers among the best quality stovies in the toon. We would give them 5 stars.
During the year we learned some new dances to serve up that we have been practising on unsuspecting audiences at recent functions. We will have a great line up for the performance and promise a big sound. 2019 has been a good year for us after being shortlisted in the Doric Film Festival with our Duncan Harley Film, “Awa we gaed tae Aikey” and releasing a single worldwide on iTunes of the Buchan Ballad, Aikey Brae.
“Spirit is a child, the tune of dancing feet its lullaby.”
Fifty per cent of our Christmas Ceilidh tickets have already sold and it looks like we might repeat the last few years success with another sell-out ceilidh in advance. The Saturday before Christmas is a great way for folk to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas holiday with family or friends. A bit of entertainment and merriment is great for health. Healthy body, healthy mind. If you intend to go to a Christmas Party make sure it’s the Iron Broo Christmas Ceilidh!
Are you looking for a great Scottish Hogmanay ceilidh this New Year’s eve?
The Hogmanay Ceilidh is one of the most significant events of the year for Iron Broo or any ceilidh band or lovers of Scottish culture. This New year’s eve we will be at Pittodrie House for another fantastic ceilidh. Pittodrie House is a fantastic venue for a ceilidh. It’s not miles away from Aberdeen, and it has a cosy charm about the place with excellent staff. Make sure you get in early and book your place for a great Scottish New Year’s ceilidh with luxury.
The Hotel provides a Hogmanay Hoolie offer or a Hoolie and Residential package.
Hogmanay Hoolie at Pittodrie House
Begin with champagne cocktails, canapés and a five-course feast before the resident ceilidh band Iron Broo keeps you dancing and moving till Midnight with our Hogmanay ceilidh. Herald the New Year with a cascade of fireworks before it’s back to the dance floor for a disco.
Tuesday 31st December 2019
£130.00 per adult
6.30pm – Arrival;
7.00pm – Dinner served;
9.30pm – Ceilidh; Midnight – Fireworks then disco; 2.00am – Carriages Dress code: Black-tie or Highland dress
MENU
Laurent Perrier champagne & canapés ✯ ✯ ✯ Highland Entrées John Ross Jr smoked salmon, beetroot cured, potato & grain mustard salad, capers, lemon oil smoked venison, celeriac & apple
✯ ✯ ✯
Main Course
Scotch beef, roast sirloin of Scotch beef, braised cheek, dauphinoise potatoes braised cabbage, parsnip puree, toffee carrots, red wine jus
✯ ✯ ✯
Dessert
Dark chocolate truffle torte, honeycomb, pistachio crumble, Amaretto ice cream
Arrive from 2.00pm, Tuesday 31st December 2019 Champagne, canapes reception before joining the Hogmanay ceilidh. 1st January – brunch from 9.30am – 11.30am 3-course dinner in the Mither Tap Restaurant 2nd January – leisurely breakfast before you depart For 2 night stay £595.00 cosy room, £650.00 executive room, £750.00 feature room Add 3rd night for £100.00 cosy room, £150.00 executive room, £250.00 feature room BOOK ON 01467 622437 OR EMAIL EVENTS.PITTODRIE@MACDONALD-HOTELS.CO.UK
I have been told a few times recently that I’m not good at selling myself. The truth is it’s because generally, I don’t like people who are good at selling themselves. It’s something ingrained in the northeast of Scotland psyche. Naebody likes a big heid. I’ve always been conscious of this.
I really enjoy creating music. Here I am giving away free sheet music.
I have started a small free sheet music library on IronBroo.scot and as I create new tunes I will build it up. You can download the PDFs for sheet music for free if you want to learn any of my tunes. I would love to hear them being played or recorded by other people.
I really enjoy doing what I do with music. Here’s one I made earlier…
It’s a pretty modest library at the moment ( more of a shelf ) but it takes a long time for me to write out and record the tunes and make the videos. If you want updates you can follow this blog or find us on Facebook, subscribe on YouTube and visiting ironbroo.scot. Leaving positive comments is encouraging. 🙂
Scottish Music Videos
The tune in the video above is one of my own compositions and the pictures and video are all my own, taken on Lochnagar in Aberdeenshire. I used an iPhone and a Canon Camera. Scotland is such a stunningly beautiful place with such a variety of scenery, it is a source of endless inspiration.
I hiv tae say that yer meely moo’ed Hollywood hisna got a look in when it comes tae the Doric Film Festival. It was grand affair indeed.
Hosted by Frieda Morrison, attended by VIPs and distinguished guests…
For your viewing pleasure… Here are the edits of the event held at the Belmont Cinema in Aberdeen on the 2nd of July 2019.
A celebration of our doric culture, music and song. Some great poems and scripts.
Part 1 (schools)
Part 2 ( Individuals & community groups )
Here is our shortlisted entry Directed by Duncan Harley. “Awa we gaed tae Aikey”
Awa we gaed tae Aikey.
You can also buy our Aikey Brae song online. It costs less than a fancy bag o’ tattie crisps. Ye can find a’ the popular download links here… https://ironbroo.scot/cal-records/aikey-brae/
The doric film festival was a great thing to see. There’s something that grabs your heart deep inside and gives it a kick. It’s intimate like a childhood memory of your mother whispering something close to your ear. It reminded me of a distant childhood memory I had forgotten about. What hit me the most was realising that in our everyday lives we never hear our own tongue portrayed on the big screen unless it’s a comedy or derogatory. If it is heard spoken in the news reports of the mainstream media it would also be sub-titled to emphasis how ignorant and uncultured us heathen doric speakers are. Nobody can understand us even when we speak English. To hear your own people speak on screen in the language that we all understand is a breakthrough. Doric is a powerful language and carries more depth and emotion than English can. We can get away with much less words. We also have words where English equivalents don’t really exist. Di yi ken fit hozzlin is? or Knap Darlich? The intonation and the use of cursing is an art form in doric and Scots. Swear words are adjectives, nouns and verbs. From a young age, in Scotland, we were taught not to speak our own words. We were often punished for using them in class, for example. Sometimes enthusiastically by overzealous teachers that felt they were a class above us. Even though they were Scots themselves. If you wanted to get on in life, “dinna spic lik at min” This is why it makes the Doric Film Festival something unique and groundbreaking in my eyes. It was difficult not to be moved by it. I think there is now a recognition in some places that our language is special and should be celebrated. It’s more than just part of our identity and shared history. It is the spirit of the North East of Scotland.
We had great fun making Aikey Brae and are looking forward to the next film festival and are researching our next project for an entry.
“Awa we Gaed tae Aikey”
Directed and written by Duncan Harley. An Iron Broo film performed by Charlie Abel & Fred Wilkinson. Narrated & edited by Charlie Abel. Doric supervisors Alison Abel (my ma fae Turra) and Grace Banks.
It’s the day after the 2nd of July 2019 and today we can release our shortlisted entry to the first-ever Doric Film Festival. “Awa we gaed tae Aikey”. The awards and presentations took place yesterday afternoon in the Belmont Cinema, Aberdeen. There were around 240 guests packed in to screen 1 to see the awards and the entries shown on the big screen. There were over 30 entries and there were 3 categories. Schools, individuals and community groups. We were were in the community groups section and were shortlisted to the final 4, only one of which would get the coveted Doric Oscar. The winner of our group was from Torry Community Group. I was curious to find out if any of the participants stayed on OSCAR ROAD 🙂 (that’s an aptly named street in Torry) Their film was an excellent piece on the history of Torry. Every film I saw on the day was a winner so it must have been difficult for the judges to sit through 30+ films and choose a winner. Each film I saw had something very special about it. From the old footage of Aberdeen Harbour and old Torry, to the Fishing Boats of the Bloo Toon with Meethill Primary. There wis family poems and stories with video acted out, the whole thing was very moving for any doric person. To my knowledge, It’s the first time our culture has been celebrated in a film festival
Onyhoo… We were fair tricket to be shortlisted into the final 4 in the Community category of the Doric Film Festival with our film Awa we gaed tae Aikey.
The Doric festival was a great success and brought in talent from across the northeast with some fantastic short film entries from schools, individuals and community groups. We thoroughly enjoyed working on our film about Aikey Brae with real northeast doric language and music. When I was at school I remember being told off and even excluded from lessons for speaking doric in class, it happened a few times but now it warms my heart to see so many people celebrate oor mither tongue. A creative and descriptive language reekin o’ history and hard toil.
The film was Duncan Harley’s concept, and I would personally like to thank him for inviting myself and Fred to join him in the creation of the film. We learned a lot of tricks in the process and are looking forward to our next project. We hope the Doric Film Festival will continue and become an annual event. It’s sair needed in oor toon.
A big thanks to Frieda Morrison and her team for making the whole thing happen.
We released the music track “Aikey Brae” online. It’s on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify etc. A radio edit and the version of the full verse with the doric monologue as written by the original author G.S. Morris.
You can download the tracks for pennies. Less than a bug o tattie crisps. Please dae as we sair need the siller.
Here’s a CdBaby link https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/charlieabel3
Directed and written by Duncan Harley. An Iron Broo film. Music performed by Charlie Abel & Fred Wilkinson. Narrated & edited by Charlie Abel. Doric supervisors Alison Abel (my ma fae Turra) and Grace Banks.
Our Doric Film Festival Entry.
Iron Broo – From ceilidh band to the big screen
It’s the day after the 2nd of July 2019 and today we can release our shortlisted entry to the first-ever Doric Film Festival. The awards and presentations took place yesterday afternoon in the Belmont Cinema, Aberdeen. There were around 240 guests packed in to screen 1 to see the awards and the entries shown on the big screen. There were over 30 entries and there were 3 categories. Schools, individuals and community groups. We were were in the community groups section and were shortlisted to the final 4, only one of which would get the coveted Doric Oscar. The winner of our group was from Torry Community Group. I was curious to find out if any of the participants stayed on OSCAR ROAD 🙂 (that’s an aptly named street in Torry) Their film was an excellent piece on the history of Torry. Every film I saw on the day was a winner so it must have been difficult for the judges to sit through 30+ films and choose a winner. Each film had something very special about it. From the old footage of Aberdeen Harbour and old Torry, to the Fishing Boats of the Bloo Toon with Meethill Primary. There wis family poems and stories with actors, the whole thing was very moving for any doric person. It warms the heart to hear the familiar turn of the doric tongue on the big screen. Communicating sentiment with messages that the english language could never do for us. To my knowledge, It’s the first time our culture has been celebrated in a film festival. This was art.
Onyhoo…
We were fair tricket to be shortlisted into the final 4 in the Community category. The Doric festival was a great success and brought in talent from across the northeast with some fantastic short film entries from schools, individuals and community groups. We thoroughly enjoyed working on our film about Aikey Brae with real northeast doric language and music. When I was at school I remember being told off and even excluded from lessons for speaking doric in class, it happened a few times but now it warms my heart to see so many people celebrate oor mither tongue. A creative and descriptive language reekin o’ history and hard toil.
Thanks Duncan Harley – Director
The film was Duncan Harley’s concept, and I would personally like to thank him for inviting myself and Fred to join him in the creation of the film. We learned a lot of tricks in the process and are looking forward to our next project. We hope the Doric Film Festival will continue and become an annual event. It’s sair needed in oor toon.
A big thanks to Frieda Morrison and her team for making the whole thing happen.
Iron Broo ( Charlie (me) & Fred ) played at the Doric Film Festival awards ceremony. We played little ditties as the folk came up for their awards and we performed our version of the song Aikey Brae, used in our film.
Aikey Brae – oor track(s)
We released the music track “Aikey Brae” online. It’s on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify etc. A radio edit and the version of the full verse with the doric monologue as written by the original author G.S. Morris. You can download the tracks for pennies. Less than a bug o tattie crisps. Please dae as we sair need the siller. Here’s a CdBaby link https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/charlieabel3
The standing stones at Aikey Brae, up above where the horse cowpin’ went on, are believed to be around 5000 years old. There are many standing stones around the area and many share similar features. Aikey Brae is one of the most nearly complete ones left. Many stones were moved and were used for building other things over the centuries.
Aikey Brae Stone Circle informationAikey Brae Standing StonesAikey Brae Stone Circle Aikey Brae ( sacrificial stone?)Aikey Brae from on top of the sacrificial stone
Live clip from the ceilidh – Thanks to Drew Brown of Abertunity.co.uk
A would like to say a big thank you to the people who came to our ceilidh and supported us in raising funds for Diabetes UK and having fun at a ceilidh. It was a great night even though the turn out was much smaller than we had hoped for. It’s such a pity we didn’t manage to get the message out effectively. We are considering another one soon to try and build some momentum and bring some more Scottish culture to our city. Something good. Something missing. Something we can make happen.
I’d also like to thank the band who gave up a rare Friday night off from playing at weddings to give their time to play for free. A time where they could have spent with their family instead of chasing rainbows with Iron Broo.
We also would like to thank our volunteer photographer, who came along to support the event. Drew Brown of Abertunity.co.uk who took many photos and video clips of the night that help capture the atmosphere of a traditional Ceilidh night. You can see Drew’s complete shots on his page: https://drewbrownimages.co.uk/iron-broo-ceilidh-with-a-kick-diabetes-fundraiser/
Set dancing
A good band – good company – BYOB
A few more people could have made a big difference to our fundraising as well.
We perhaps need to rethink our advertising strategy.
After costs, we have raised £79, and I have an anonymous donation came in taking this to £100.
We have done much better in the past and hope we will do much better next time.
As the saying goes:
“It’s not how many times you get knocked down that count. It’s how many times you get back up.”
We are getting back up and hope to increase the fundraising and get folk back to some ceilidh culture.
Tonight is the night for our ceilidh fundraiser for Diabetes.
It’s also one of the hottest days of the year forecast so far.
We are in Aberdeen, so I won’t hold my breath.
I hope we can get a decent turnout so we can raise some money for our efforts.
It’s a BYOB so it can be a great night even if you are not fit for the dancing.
ceilidh poster
Ceilidh Guinea Pigs needed
Tonight we will attempt a new dance called the Cornish Six Hand Reel. It’s a special request from Fred who has been kept awake at night by this dance. The voices in his head that won’t let him sleep have been whispering it over an over again for the last few weeks. He remembered it from an old Ossian album I think he said.
I’ll try and think of some nice tunes to go with it 😉
If you want to swat up on it here are the steps and a link to a YouTube Video from erlebnis-tanz.de
1-8 As a line of 6, take 8 steps down the hall, balance twice (4 kicks), and turn round 8 9-16 Take 8 steps back up the hall, balance twice 8 17-32 Turn the face your partner, Reel of six 16 33-36 Right hand turn your partner 4 37-40 Left hand turn your partner 4 41-44 Two hand turn your partner 4 45-48 Do-si-do your partner 4 49-56 All take your partner in a promenade hold and double cast left, with the top couple forming an arch 8 57-64 All under and swing 8
Hope to see you tonight at the Ceilidh. Doors open 7.30pm. Bring your own drinks and snacks. Tickets available here or on the door tonight.
