[3][4] Run by Reekus Records founder Elvera Butler, Downtown Kampus regularly hosted gigs with influential bands.
In 2001, the label released the solo album from The Blades' songwriter and frontman Paul Cleary, entitled Crooked Town.
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";[8] 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.
[9] 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.
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.
[1] 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.