Meet Iron Broo
The musicians behind the music
Charlie Abel
- Band leader • Accordion • Vocals • Dance calling
Charlie founded Iron Broo and leads the band on accordion, as well as calling the dances and singing. His accordion setup allows him to play melody, bass and accompaniment live, helping give Iron Broo its characteristically full sound.
Fred Wilkinson
- Bouzouki • Mandolin
Brendan O’Leary
- Tenor banjo • Mandolin
Brendan brings a lively tenor-banjo and mandolin sound to Iron Broo. His playing adds plenty of lift and bounce to the ceilidh sets and is particularly effective when the dance floor is in full swing.
Originally from Australia, Brendan has made Aberdeen his home and is rarely far from a traditional music session.
Sandy Mathers
Fiddle • Multi-instrumentalist • Dance caller
Sandy grew up immersed in the fiddle music of North-East Scotland and is an accomplished player, composer, multi-instrumentalist and dance caller.
His compositions have been recorded internationally, and his musical interests also extend to harmonica and melodeon.
Tom Roche
Tom is originally from County Cork and has lived in Aberdeenshire since 1999. His musical background includes festival appearances in Scotland and beyond with bands including Paddyrasta, the Jani Lang Band and the Brogues.
Away from music, Tom is also a marathon runner and has been known to finish a gig, drive for hours and be ready for a race the following morning.
Different Musicians, One Iron Broo Sound
Iron Broo performs in different line-ups depending on the event, from our popular Duo through to larger 3, 4, 5 and 6-piece bands.
The exact musicians can vary depending on the line-up and availability, but the aim stays the same: great live music, clear dance calling and a full dance floor.
In memory of Stan Coghill
Stan was a valued part of Iron Broo and the wider Aberdeen traditional music scene. He is remembered with great affection.
