Anna van Riel is Byron's newest emerging singer/songwriter. After making the decision to flap her wings and prove that Kiwi's can actually fly, van Riel moved to Byron Bay in February this year to pursue her budding music career. Her recent endeavors include two successful New Zealand tours and a solo performance at The Confluence Music Festival in the Himalayas. She has taken her beloved guitar (Livingston) and ukulele (Sausage) far and wide and has performed twice for Prince Albert of Monaco. Anna's sound has been likened to a combination of Joni Mitchell and Natalie Merchant. Be sure to check …

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Hey everyone and welcome 2011!

If I told you how my 2010 ended I have no doubts there would be those amongst you who would shake your heads in disbelief. I think I can safely state that the year 2010 has been the biggest and brightest in my collection of 30 years yet and, incredibly, it somehow continues.

Just yesterday I received an email from Kevin McCarthy of the Blarney Bulletin proclaiming me as the official winner of the 2010 Rebel Yelp Competition. This comp is for protest and rally song submissions and I feel honoured to accept 1st place with my song Matilda's Waltz (attached)

2010 came at me like a bat out of hell with opportunities and friendships to activate my music career in a massive way. I made the move to Byron Bay Australia where I met the enigmatic and lusty Kathryn 'Cougar' Jones, a massive musical entity in her own right. Together we launched our acoustic duo 'The Swingin' Cowgirls' and proceeded to hold the whole Northern Rivers at ransom with our "Look at moi, look at moi" approach to showbiz. Wahoo! It worked a treat and together we performed a huge amount of gigs in just four intense months before the year was through.

I am also stoked and proud to have launched not only my 2nd album 'Einey Meiny Miney Mo', but also my offical http://www.annavanriel.com website where I now sell my albums online and keep all of the incredible people who support me up-to-date on my ever changing story.

Other than the brilliant music venues and musicians, Australia's East Coast has also handed me a bunch of awesome opportunities such as the Annual Dolphin Music Awards where I received 6 nominations and took home Children's song of the year for my kids …

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