Howdy friends!

Just a quick update on the Red Deer Festival that was held for it's 1st year on the 18th and 19th of June. What a fantastic festival! The weather was perfect, the crew were sensational, the location was absolutely stunning and the stage was awesome. I felt very honoured to open the first ever Red Deer Festival and got a great reception from the audience. I performed with my fabulous band consisting of Dylan O'Donnell (banjo ad vocals), Kathryn Jones (vocals and guitar) and Anna O'Donnell (fiddle). It will be running again next year with another really groovy, alternative and entertaining line-up and is destined to become a legendary festival.

Kathryn Jones and I also performed in our Bluegrass-folk duo The Swingin' Cowgirls last weekend at Bangalow's 10th year of Cabaret Da Desh. What a night. 29 performers, all of excellent quality, entertaining 300 locals packed into the A&I Hall. Once released over a month ago, tickets sold out in 15 minutes to this outstanding event. If you can get in next year you wont be sorry.

Those of you who keep asking will be pleased to know that my 2nd album Einey Meiny Miney Mo is in the final stages of mastering and the album cover is currently being reviewed in a 'Flowers or Stars?' thread by everyone on facebook with suggestions for tweaking. What a hoot! I hope to release this by early August. Thanks to everyone for all the support I've recieved so far in raising funds for the release of this album. I have currenty raised $800 of the $2,500 needed and it's rising. This is a great effort and I really appreciate all your support.

In other exciting news, I have submitted to various categories in the NCEIA Dolphin Awards here in the Northern Rivers. I need to you all to collectively visualize me with a whopping big trophy. Woohoo! I'll keep you posted on this one.

All my latest performances can be found on my website or on myspace http://www.myspace.com/annavanriel, so be sure to check them out and come along to any gigs if you can make it.

With Love

Anna x