Iron Broo Ceilidh Band

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  • My Turriff Grandma

    New Tune – My Turriff Grandma

    A new tune for my Grandma, Elizabeth Littlejohn, (Lizzie) who has been a great inspiration to me since I was very little.  

    My Turriff Grandma makes a good tune for a ceilidh waltz.

    I wrote this for my Grandma but she sadly passed away shortly after.  

    Sheet music in PDF

    You can download the sheet music for this tune, and others on our website.

    The background story of this ceilidh waltz.

    My Turriff Grandma
    My Turriff Grandma

    My Turriff Grandma is a good tune for a ceilidh waltz.
    I wrote this for my Grandma. She passed away not long after I wrote it in 2018. Her name was Elizabeth Harper Littlejohn. Everyone called her Lizzie and everyone liked her, and she was universally loved. Although she was not long 90 past her 90th birthday, she was always young and always happy. Lizzie never aged inside. Still kind and very interested in what you were up to. Her company would make anyone feel comfortable and at peace. She had a laid back elegance that came from an invisible royal highland lineage. Lizzie’s company would banish worry in an instant and make you feel at peace. Her eyes sparkled, and she was graceful. I never heard her speak ill of anyone or anything. If grandma did think it, she would keep it to herself. She was composed and she was the Queen of our Royal Family.
    She would encourage you and be proud of you.
    She once told me, “Dinna ca me Grunnie. I’m nae sum al biddy. I am your Grandmother!”
    Lizzie was dignified.
    And incredibly creative. Writing poetry in Doric before it was cool, painting oil on canvas, knitting, sewing and playing the Organ. She knew her way around a Kitchen.
    She was everything that a talented artist should be.

    Grandma was always pleased to see you, and I was always delighted to see her.
    I will miss her voice. The most beautiful melodic north-east accent I ever heard, and it was like music.
    I loved to hear her speak.

    She left a big hole in our family when she had to go. If we learnt anything from knowing her, it was how to behave as a human being; she had not had an easy life but managed to keep sparkling. Get stuck in there, sleeves up, knuckle down and keep smiling. She was a Grand Ma!
    She made the world a happier place.

    Available on CD or as a download.

    I recorded this track on my album A Celtic Voice. Sometimes we play it as a ceilidh waltz at weddings. You can buy the CD from us or download online. The track-only costs 79p on iTunes. It’s nice to have if you want to learn to play along with the free sheet music.

  • Blue Lamp Ceilidh on 2nd May 2018

    Our next public ceilidh as the Iron Broo Duo will be at the Blue Lamp on Wednesday the 2nd of May 8-11pm.
    Places are limited so get your tickets quickly.
    only £7.50 and there is a public bar available.
    Hosted by the newly created Creative & Cultural Business Society.
    Tickets available through http://www.rguunion.co.uk

    ​All dances called, no experience needed, all welcome.

  • Ceilidh for Aberdeen CND

    We had a great time at our ceilidh Friday 23rd of February, raising much needed funds for CND Aberdeen.   February is always a difficult time to inspire people to get out and we were a little disappointed we didn’t sell out this gig.  We would have liked to have seen some more support but understand that people have other priorities in these difficult times. Still we were extremely happy with the lovely people who did brave the cold and shared in a belief that a world without nuclear weapons is possible.  None of us are safe in a world where nuclear weapons exist and for future generations around the world this is a massive threat to our safety.
     
     
    “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”   Chinese proverb.
     
     
    I’ve always felt that you can’t beat the atmosphere of a good old-fashioned BYOB ceilidh in a hall. We had a great mix of people, families, friends, students and a good spread across the generation gaps. 
     
    The Ceilidh raised £400 for Aberdeen CND.
     
    Now we have braved the BEAST of THE EAST and Storm Emma, now the ‘Pest from the west’ is waiting in the wings. We had plenty snow here. It’s great time to be staying indoors and playing some new music.  
     

  • New tune written for Dr. Fritz Wendland.

    A free download of sheet music is available on our sheet music page

  • Ellon Legion Christmas Ceilidh – Sat 9th December

  • Christmas Ceilidh Sold Out.

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    Our Christmas Ceilidh at the Beach Ballroom has sold out and it’s still November.  We are looking forward to a great night. 
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  • 2017 Christmas Ceilidh with Iron Broo

    Our Christmas Ceilidh tickets are now on sale for the 23rd of December.
    There is an early bird offer on the first 20 Adult tickets sold. Just look for the early bird adult ticket at the check out.  Also a family four ticket and discounts for OAP and children. 
    It will be at the Star Ballroom, upstairs at the Beach Ballroom with their chef’s own Stovies or Macaroni included.

  • Help us become record breakers at Castle Fraser this Saturday

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    Largest Strip the Willow – World Record Attempt
    (taken from the NTS event page)

    Do you want to be a Guinness World Record Breaker? On Saturday 9th of September we will be attempting the Largest Strip the Willow at Castle Fraser and we need YOU.
    In the year 2000 Edinburgh broke the record with 1,914 people during their Hogmany. We are ready to bring the record to Aberdeenshire.
    The event would not be possible without the hard work and contribution of the following people;

    – Iron Broo; who are performing the lovely ceilidh music that will help us strip that willow
    – STV’s Andrea Brymer; who will be hosting the event
    – Deeside Caledonia will be performing before we kick off the attempt
    – Gordon School of Dancing will be showing us all how it’s done before the attempt
    – A-line will be providing all AV and Tech support to make this event possible
    – Mike Gall Transport for providing the staging required
    – Fennel Media who will be filming the amazing attempt
    So save the date and get your dancing shoes at the ready!
    By signing up for a ticket you are signing to take part in our attempt. You will still have to register on the day to collect your band.  Tickets are free to attend however, there is a £2 parking fee.
    Due to the nature of this record attempt participants must be 10 years and over.
    If you are a business or group and would like to register a team to take part please get in contact with castlefraser@nts.org.uk.
    Registration: Opens at 12:00pm and closes at 1:30pm for a 2:00pm record breaking kick off.
    There will be catering vans and activities to help you to warm up and stay limber. Please keep in mind that we do live in Scotland so dress for the weather. We will be going ahead with our attempt regardless of the weather, so please bring suitable clothing and footwear as you will be dancing on grass. Ponchos will be available to buy on the day if you do require one.
    Tickets are limited, booking essential.
    Let’s do this Aberdeenshire!
    Organiser Paula Swan said: “I can’t wait to see it. It was a little idea we had last year and only last week we got confirmation from Guinness World Records to say we could do it.
    “Now it’s a reality and we’re really excited about pulling it together, and the responses we’ve had so far have been fantastic.”
    She added: “The great thing about Castle Fraser is you can stand on the tower, so we’re planning on filming it.
    “We’re also going to fly drones across the field to really capture all the people having fun.”
    Sat 09-09-17 @ 12:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/108693186471815/

  • 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
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
Ellen Caiger-Cummins
4 months ago
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
11 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 🎶👍🪗🎶🙏🏼
Kaitlyn Williamson
4 years ago
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.... :-)