Author: charlieabel

  • Teviot Debating Hall Ceilidh – Edinburgh

    Teviot Debating Hall Ceilidh – Edinburgh

    Iron Broo ceilidh band in Edinburgh…
    We had a very exiting ceilidh recently at the Teviot Debating Hall in Edinburgh. We played for an international conference of scientists through Edinburgh University.  The band were treated as guests and invited to sit down to a fantastic four course meal before the ceilidh.  #howtofeedyourband
    Thanks to Barbara Mellone and Christine for inviting us.  We can’t wait until next time…

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    Iron Broo Ceilidh Band
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    Calling before the ceilidh dancing
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    Sound Checking before the gig
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    setting the stage before the ceilidh in Edinburgh.
  • Iron Broo’s Pizza Sessions Videos.

    Our Pizza Sessions – Live Ceilidh Music Videos

    It was the first of May 2017 and it was time for some more live ceilidh music video.  I had not long finished building the Pizza Oven, a dream that had been on my bucket list for a long time. A crazy dream that would scare most folk off as it was not an easy task but I wanted to make the real thing. I spread the work over 2 years, a slice at a time. It’s based on the ancient Pompeii design and built from bricks and mortar. I did use a few modern substitutes in the build process however it remains a concrete and brick oven built from scratch.  It cooks amazing food and not just pizza.  I invited the band over for a pizza party to celebrate the anniversary of the Liberation of Italy, a few days earlier and the completion of the oven works.  So, while the oven was getting up to temperature we decided to have a wee tune…

    ​You can see the videos and others on our ceilidh clips pages.
     
    http://charliespizzaoven.blogspot.co.uk/
     
    We are based in Aberdeen, Scotland.  In the video, it might look like we are in Italy but it was pretty cold when we filmed these. It was supposed to be spring and reasonably warm but the Scottish weather has never been known to pay any attention to details or expectations, it was only 8c.  Luckily sitting in front of the oven put out enough heat to keep us warm and stop the fingers freezing up completely.
     We tried an improv version of a tune I wrote that I thought came out pretty well, here it is..  If you like the videos please consider subscribing to my YouTube Channel. It’s free and you will get updates when I post new movies.

    Live ceilidh music videos

    A Fling Set
    Ronnie Watt’s 9th Dan – Original tune by Charlie Abel
    The Jaqueline Waltz and European Set.
    Gay Gordons
    The Dark Island
  • Archie Foundation Fundraiser – Aberdeen Beach Ballroom

    Hi Folks, A great fundraising ceilidh for the ARCHIE FOUNDATION coming at the Beach Ballroom on 25th March with Iron Broo. An iconic Aberdeen venue with masses of space for dancing. Stovies included, freshly made by the wonderful Chef at the ballroom.

    OPEN TO ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

    Contact Caroline.robb@taqaglobal.com or angie.stein@taqaglobal.com

  • The Lover’s Waltz

    ​This lovely waltz was written by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason.  We were asked to play it for a first dance for a wedding in 2016. It stuck with us. Here we played it just before a ceilidh during the sound check so it’s a wee bit rough in places but we hope it does the tune some justice.
  • Christmas Ceilidh 23rd December 2016

    Iron Broo will be hosting the Christmas ceilidh this year at the wonderful Carmelite Hotel in the centre of Aberdeen on mad Friday 23rd December.
    Please come along and get away from the wrong kind of madness and help us raise funds to help local people who are down on their luck this Christmas. Our target is to raise £500 to help the Cyrenians in their good work to provide for the homeless and hungry in Aberdeen this Christmas.  It is an outrage that in the oil rich city of Aberdeen, so many people have been left stranded, dry and hungry… it’s not just this Christmas.  This is a problem that is growing and is reaching through our society and it knows no boundaries of class. In this time of austerity when good charities like the Cyrenians are facing their biggest challenge, their funding is being cut. This is the wrong kind of madness.
    Please come along and push us over our target and help dance the madness away…for a while.
    Tickets are £20 including a Stovie or Macaroni dinner at half time.  Doors open from 7.30, ceilidh will kick off at 8pm till midnight, bar will be open later.
    Please buy your tickets in advance from charlieabel@ironbroo.scot  (07802 861390) it saves us having to find extra people to man the doors and take money when we need to be playing.  We also need numbers for the chef!

    We will have a raffle so if you can bring any donations it would be most welcome.

    Aberdeen Cyrenians began in 1968 as a soup kitchen run in the city’s Castlegate.  Organised by students from Aberdeen University, this service provided basic food to a growing number of people.  It became increasingly obvious that there was a high demand for further support services and eventually a night shelter was opened.

    Over the next four decades Aberdeen Cyrenians opened the first ever wet hostel in Britain, the first Women’s hostel in Aberdeen, day centres, emergency accommodation for young people, medium-term accommodation for young and old, community & housing support services and an employment and education service.  An estimated 50,000 homeless people or people at risk of homelessness have been supported by Aberdeen Cyrenians over the past 48 years.
    Cyrenians support comes in many forms and in 2015 included:

    • 10585 nights of residential accommodation care
    • 4781 Drop In appointments
    • 3621 hot meals eaten
    • 564 showers for rough sleepers
    • 243 sleeping bags handed out

    There has been a dramatic rise in these numbers for 2016 as more people affected by family issues, job losses and high living costs come to us for help.
    As you begin to plan your Christmas with family and friends please take a moment to think about those in our community who have no home to go to this festive season, those who will not see their family and friends, and those who will spend their Christmas Day with Aberdeen Cyrenians.

  • Thank you letter

    A pleasant surprise in today’s post.  Always nice to get a thank you letter.
  • New tune composed

    I wrote a tune for Albert Thomson of Inverurie for his retirement.
    ‘Albert Thomson, Armiger, Knight and Samurai’
    I’m hoping folk will pick it up and slip it in at a few ceilidhs. So one day I can retire as well 😉
  • 29th July 2016 Charity Ceilidh

    Iron Broo will be playing at the Aberdeen Beach Ballroom for a great Charity Fundraiser ceilidh in aid of CLAN and Parkinson’s UK.
    This promises to be a great evening of ceilidh and we know from past experience the Stovies in the Beach Ballroom are fantastic! The Ballroom is a fantastic venue for a ceilidh.
    See you there!!!
  • How to do a Grand March..

    Here is my attempt at an explanation of how to do the ‘Grand March’. A very popular choice for a first dance at a Scottish wedding. Particularly popular in the Northeast of Scotland and the Northern Isles.  Most Aberdonians, Orcadians and Shetlanders will start the wedding ceilidh with this one.  It’s great as it’s very easy and gets everyone up on the floor, setting the pace for the rest of the evening.
    No experience needed and it’s a good excuse to avoid the pressure of having to ‘perform’ a first dance as couple if you don’t dance very well.  Some people  have a Grand March and then have a special first dance as a couple right after, then after a good photo opportunity everyone else joins in…yipeee..

    Learn How to Do the Grand March

    Looking for instructions? We’ve created a complete step-by-step Grand March guide, including a demonstration video, footage from the Lonach Ball and practical advice for Scottish weddings.

    Watch our Grand March videos and read the full instructions.

  • Ceilidh for Kenya – 9th March 2016 – Aberdeen

    A great chance for a great evening of ceilidh in Aberdeen on Wednesday the 9th of March at Aberdeen University.  Raising money for a Kenyan Primary School.

    See https://www.facebook.com/events/1710627222515236/

    Global Minorities Alliance Society is happy to announce our fundraising event, ‘Ceilidh for Kenya’. We are extremely excited to support and contribute to the building of a library for the primary school children in Kibera slum in Nairobi.

    Along with Scottish Ceilidh and African theme night we will celebrate diversity at our campus!

    All the money collected from tickets will go towards the GMA funds to purchase books, tables, chairs, shelves and computers for a primary school library so children can get access to the books when they need it.

    LOCATION: THE MISSION (next to Edward Wright Building, on the corner of Dunbar Street and St.

    Tickets: £6 at the door, OR £5 if you reserve your ticket by commenting on this page! 🙂

    Ticket includes entry and FREE FOOD!!!!!
    All proceeds go towards the GMA funds for the library project.

    Come along to our fun dance gig with live music, and enjoy some food and beverages! See you all there 🙂