Accordionist, Dance Caller & Founder of Iron Broo
Charlie Abel is an Aberdeen-born professional musician, accordionist, singer and dance caller, and the founder of Iron Broo Ceilidh Band.
He started Iron Broo in 1992 and has spent more than three decades getting people dancing at weddings, parties, festivals and events throughout Scotland and beyond.
Charlie leads the band on accordion, calls and explains the dances and also sings. His accordion setup allows him to play melody, bass and accompaniment live, helping give Iron Broo its characteristically full sound.
Charlie’s One Man Ceilidh Band
Charlie also performs as Iron Broo’s One Man Ceilidh Band, combining live accordion with MIDI bass and rhythm accompaniment to create a full, lively ceilidh sound from one musician. With expert dance calling included, it’s a great option for smaller weddings, parties, community events and overseas bookings.
A Life in Music
Charlie began playing accordion as a teenager and quickly realised that music was what he wanted to do with his life.
At 18 he toured Brazil with the Lorne Scottish Dance Band and later worked professionally aboard the St Clair ferry between Aberdeen and Lerwick.
Since then, music has taken him throughout Scotland, the UK and overseas, with performances in countries including Brazil, Norway, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Latvia and Japan.
Over the years Charlie has worked with musicians from many different musical backgrounds, from Scottish dance music and folk through to country, jazz and American alternative music.
His main musical influence in his early years was accordionist Mick Foster of Foster & Allen, whose playing helped inspire Charlie to take up the accordion.
Iron Broo Since 1992
Iron Broo began as a pick-up ceilidh band in Aberdeen in 1992 and has developed into one of the North-East of Scotland’s longest-established ceilidh bands.
Charlie has led Iron Broo through more than 1,000 weddings and events, from intimate family celebrations to large public events and major venues.
Highlights have included eight appearances at T in the Park, performances at Aberdeen Music Hall, the Beach Ballroom and venues throughout Scotland and Europe.
Different musicians and line-ups have come and gone over the years, but the philosophy has remained the same: great live music, friendly dance calling and getting people onto the dance floor.
More Than Just Playing the Tunes
For Charlie, a successful ceilidh isn’t simply about playing a set of tunes.
Every crowd is different. Some guests know every dance while others have never been to a ceilidh before.
Charlie reads the room, chooses dances that suit the guests and explains everything clearly before the music starts, helping complete beginners join in alongside experienced dancers.
Our aim is simple: a full dance floor and a great night for everyone.
Recording & Studio Work
Alongside live performance, Charlie has a long-standing interest in recording and music production.
He has recorded a number of albums and has worked both as a performer and recording musician with artists from Scotland and overseas.
Charlie studied music production and now works from his own recording studio in Aberdeen, where he continues to record, arrange and produce music alongside his live work.
He also plays piano and guitar, although the accordion remains firmly at the centre of his musical life.
For Charlie’s solo music, recordings and other musical projects, visit CharlieAbel.com.
Recognition & Special Performances
Charlie’s contribution to music, culture and public life has led to a number of unusual honours and memorable performances.
Charlie is also active in promoting Doric language and culture. His short films have received multiple honours at the Doric Film Festival, including two first prizes, a runner-up award and a Spirit of the Festival award. He is also one of the regular contributors to the weekly Doric Corner column in The Press and Journal.
He is a Free Burgess of the City of Aberdeen and a recipient of the Scottish Samurai Award, Taisho.
One of the most personally significant moments of his musical career was being invited to sing at the funeral of former First Minister Alex Salmond, whom Charlie had admired for many years.
Charlie has also performed at numerous charity events throughout his career, helping raise funds for good causes in Aberdeen and further afield.
Scotland, Italy & Family
Aberdeen has always been home, but Charlie also has strong family connections with Italy.
His wife Barbara is Italian, and they were married in Lecce in 2003. Italy has consequently become an important part of Charlie’s life, both personally and musically, and he has performed there on a number of occasions.
For all the travelling and performing, family life in Aberdeen remains very important to him.
Away From Music
Music occupies a large part of Charlie’s life, but not all of it.
He has trained in karate for many years and also enjoys cooking, DIY and outdoor cooking.
One particularly ambitious project was building an authentic Pompeii-style wood-fired pizza oven in his garden from scratch.
When the Scottish weather cooperates, he is also rarely far from a barbecue.
Still Getting Scotland Dancing
More than three decades after starting Iron Broo, Charlie is still doing what first attracted him to music as a teenager: playing live, meeting people and watching a room come alive once the dancing starts.
Whether it’s a wedding in Aberdeenshire, a large corporate event, a family celebration or a ceilidh further afield, every night is different.
And that’s exactly how he likes it.
