Reekus Records is an Irish

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

and publishing company based in Dublin, founded by Elvera Butler in 1981. The label specializes in the promotion of mostly Irish rock and

alternative music Alternative music may refer to the following types of music: *Alternative rock *Alternative pop *Alternative R&B *Neo soul, sometimes known as alternative soul *Alternative reggaeton *Alternative hip hop *Alternative dance *Alternative metal *Chris ...

. The label has a discography that charts over three decades of Irish rock and alternative music. The company has released albums by leading Irish artists, including

The Blades A blade is a sharp cutting part, for instance of a weapon or tool. Blade or Blades may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Blade (character), a Marvel Comics character ** Blade (New Line franchise character) ** B ...

, David Hopkins,

Perry Blake Perry Blake (born 10 May 1970) is an Irish singer and songwriter from Sligo, Ireland, known for the delicate, downtempo, melancholic style of his songs and his soft singing voice. Career Blake's 1998 self-titled debut album was successful in the ...

, Reemo,

The Moondogs The Moondogs are a Northern Irish rock band formed in 1979, and consisting of Gerry McCandless, Austin Barrett and Jackie Hamilton. Their career spans three albums, four singles and two television programmes. Discography Singles *"She's Nine ...

, Metisse,

Big Self Big Self are a Northern Irish rock band who formed in 1980. Their line-up consisted of Bernard Tohill on guitars and vocals, Jim Nicholl on guitars, Patmo Sheeran on bass and vocals and Michael Morris on drums. During the early to mid-late 1980s ...

and performance artist Nigel Rolfe, as well launching the career of now established acts, such as Aslan and

Microdisney Microdisney were an Irish rock band formed in Cork in 1980. They were founded and led by songwriters Cathal Coughlan (keyboards, vocals) and Sean O'Hagan (guitar). Originally typeset as Micro Disney, the band had become Microdisney by the tim ...

. Reekus Records is a member of the

Irish Recorded Music Association The Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) is a non-profit association set up in 1999 to promote certain interests of the music industry in Ireland. It is particularly active in addressing copyright issues, and it compiles the official music ...

(IRMA).

History

1980s: Kaught at the Kampus and the origins of Reekus

The creation of Reekus Records originated from

Kaught at the Kampus ''Kaught at the Kampus'' is a live compilation 12-inch EP conceived and organised by Irish promoter Elvera Butler, and released in 1981 on her Reekus Records label. A showcase of then emerging Cork city punk and post-punk bands, it contains tra ...

, a vehicle for local

Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

bands, whose central aim was to give support slots to acts at the Downtown Kampus, a club night in the

Arcadia Ballroom Arcadia may refer to: Places Australia * Arcadia, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney * Arcadia, Queensland * Arcadia, Victoria Greece * Arcadia (region), a region in the central Peloponnese * Arcadia (regional unit), a modern administrative u ...

. ''Kaught at the Kampus'' included tracks by

Nun Attax Five Go Down to the Sea? were an Irish post-punk band from Cork, active between 1978 and 1989. Vocalist and lyricist Finbarr Donnelly, guitarist Ricky Dineen and brothers Philip (bass) and Keith "Smelly" O'Connell (drums) formed the band as ...

, Mean Features and Urban Blitz. The album had been recorded on 30 August 1980. Run by Reekus Records founder Elvera Butler, Downtown Kampus regularly hosted gigs with influential bands.

Early releases and the 1980s

During this period, Reekus set-up offices in Dublin and London. Notable releases during this period include The Blades' double A-side single, "The Bride Wore White" / "Animation" in 1982 (in the Hotpress National Poll, "The Bride Wore White" was voted best single of the year) and ''The Last Man In Europe''.

2000s

In 2001, the label released the solo album from The Blades' songwriter and frontman Paul Cleary, entitled ''Crooked Town''. This was followed by re-releases of The Blades' albums ''Raytown Revisited'' and ''The Last Man In Europe'' on CD format.

John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey (DJ) and radio presenter. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly fr ...

favourites,

released ''Red Fish'' in 2003 (their first album in over twenty years), and in 2002 and 2007 respectively, Reekus released ''California'' and ''Canyon Songs'', albums by Sligo-born songwriter

. Several new bands were added to the label's roster in this period: in October 2003, Saville released ''Somnambular Ballads'', which led Hotpress to call them "one of the nation's favourite bands"; in 2005, ''Amber and Green'' by David Hopkins was released through Reekus; it was given 4.5/5 in Hotpress and made album of the week on the ''Larry Gogan Show'' on RTÉ 2fm. Reemo's debut, ''Colours'', was described as "blistering" and "epic". Other well-received releases include ''Kaeleidoscope'' by Carosel, ''Blood Is Not Enough'' by Myp Et Jeep, ''Cash Is King'' by Mocrac, and ''Charm Offensive'' by The Radio, amongst many other albums, EPs and singles. In 2003 Reekus moved into print with the publication of '' It Makes You Want To Spit - The Definitive Guide to Punk in Ulster''. Because of the few venues and even fewer gigs around at the time of the Northern Irish Troubles, music fans embraced a punk, DIY aesthetic. The book was originally an 84-page fanzine, compiled and rewritten by Reekus Records. Celebrating its 30-year anniversary, Reekus Records released the compilation ''Too Late To Stop Now'' in 2012.

2010s

In 2010 Reekus released the debut album from up-and-coming Dublin folk rockers Sweet Jane, ''Sugar For My Soul'', which was called "beautiful... a cohesive record, one of intriguing atmosphere and stunning depth." The band have since changed their name to their current moniker Buffalo Sunn. In 2011,

Cry Before Dawn Cry Before Dawn are a four-piece rock band originally hailing from Wexford in Ireland. They released several singles and two albums in the late 1980s and toured Ireland, UK and US. Lineup * Brendan Wade – vocals, acoustic guitar, uill ...

released their comeback single, "Is This What You Waited For", through Reekus Records. In March 2013, featuring with Electro Sensitive Behaviour, Perry Blake released the single "Michael Caine". In mid-2011, Reekus Records curated an installment of Heineken and POD's Music Future's Bright featuring two bands on Reekus's roster, Sweet Jane and Saccade. In 2014 Buffalo Sunn released their debut album ''By The Ocean By The Sea'' on Reekus Records. Produced by Pat McCarthy, the album debuted at #2 on the Irish indie charts, and #14 on the Irish charts. The album was received well by the Irish media, receiving 4 out of 5 stars from both '' The Irish Times'' and the '' Irish Daily Star''.

Reekus artists

Current roster

* Buffalo Sunn *

* Death in the Sickroom] * Keith Moss & The Tightrope Walkers *

* David Hopkins *

References

Sources

External links

Reekus Records , Independent Irish Record Label & Publishing Company, Dublin, Ireland

Reekus Records’s Label Page – Music at Last.fm

Article about POD gig
{{Authority control Irish record labels