The Spirits bar in Cologne turns 18 this month – and I can say I’ve been there from the start. To celebrate, here’s the first of two DJ mixes: An all reggae affair from 2000.
In the last few years, the Spirits has become quite famous by winning awards like “Germany’s Best Bar” and “Best Bar Team”. But it wasn’t always like that. Back at the turn of the millennium, the place was just a cool hangout with great drinks and good vibes.
I first DJ’ed there on wednesdays to fill in for a friend when he wasn’t available. And since the bar’s first owners only wanted to have reggae, that’s what I spun there, thankful for a reason to extend my reggae record collection and get into Jamaican music and culture.
A lot has happened since then, but I never really stopped playing at the Spirits. And the place has hardly changed – it’s still about great drinks and good vibes. These days, you can listen to all kinds of sounds from a great variety of DJs, but that early spirit is still there.
There is a photo of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Mick Jagger smiling together that was hanging up above the DJ booth for years – and that sums up the place for me. So I’m very much looking forward to play a few records for the 18th anniversary on August 26th.
Until then, enjoy this mix from the early days! Next week, I’ll have another treat for you!