It’s an old story now.

But Todd Donald and I started the Indie Rock Invasion Show in 2008 as a combination of our radio programs “The Rock Show” and the “Indie Invasion”. Friday, August 17th, we say good bye as we interview our last band, The River of Ghosts.

The I.R.I.S. Entertainment Corporation – and it’s subsequent companies/arts initiatives – were all built on our radio show, hosted Friday nights originally 7-9pm, then shortened to 8-9pm in 2010.

We kicked off I.R.I.S. Entertainment with a concert at the hottest new music venue in Waterloo, Maxwell’s Music House. Featuring Todd Donald, The Union of Lanterns, The Urban Monks, CityWide Panic and The Stars Here, the very first I.R.I.S. concert became a preview of the many, many things that were set to come. check these photos by SNAP!

From our roster of our artists, to our residency at Victoria Park’s Boathouse; The TABU Music Festival, to Velvet Rope Magazine, I.R.I.S. forged from a radio show to a full-fledged entertainment company with one goal in mind – to promote independent bands, artists and musicians.

Todd and I landed the cover of the Echo in 2009, and in celebration we held annual birthday parties marking our first show on the air – fittingly on July 4th, Independence Day.

We got some cool press such as: “There are no bigger supporters of independent music than Carrie Humphries and Todd Donald..” Jason Schneider, Nightlife and “Not content to just play the tunes though, Todd and Carrie are also flourishing into serious promoters, putting their money where their mouths are putting on local shows, loaded with excellent unsigned artists. If you’re really intent on keeping your finger to the pulse of local indie rock, their show is not to be missed..” Patrick Finch, The Beat Goes On Newsletter.

We were able to sponsor some amazing events such as GO! Festival, and Think You’re A Sick-Ass Rock Band.

But through all the changes we’ve seen through the last four years, the constant has been that our radio show listeners could flick on and tune in to the Indie Rock Invasion Show every Friday. Interviewing band after band, artists after artist; debuting new singles, new releases, bands with new members, artists on-air for their very first time, the Indie Rock Invasion Show rarely took days off. To write a release to say we’re officially off the air is heartbreaking.

We have faithfully kept up on our myspace blog which features our playlists over the last four years. In the notes, you will find artists who have been with us week after week, contests we ran, and the music we played. Encore Records deserves a huge thank you for kicking off my collection of independent albums.

So as we say good bye, we say hello to a new chapter in I.R.I.S.. We’ve got a plan, and I’m certain it will work. It will simply be an element of time. When we’re ready, we’ll post it up on the site and keep everyone in the know.

Till then, thank you to CJIQ for the incredible four years we held the mic at the Doon Campus station, and for supporting us now with VR, and thank YOU to all of the listeners over the years. Your dedication to tuning in those Friday nights is completely awe-inspiring. Thank you to all of the artists, bands and musicians who have turned up for interviews, performed live, and entrusted myself and Todd with sharing the news of your latest singles, your new CDs, and your live shows you wanted promoted and more. Thank you.

Care (and Toddy) xo