“Music gives back to me everything life has taken from me when I am on that stage.
I can truly give back to so many that have given to me. “
Karen Underwood is a singer, writer and storyteller from Chicago who has lived in Cork for more than two decades.
She has performed in countless festivals, concerts and shows.
Karen has created:
The Nina in Me - an autobiographical show of Karen’s life punctuated with the music of Nina Simone, and directed by John O'Brien (piano), and later featuring Fionn Ó Ceallacháin (drums) and Dave Whitla (bass)
Singing Nina - the life of Nina Simone and her music with Eoghan Regan (guitar), Bob Jackson (drums), Pete Hannigan (bass) and Art O'Leary (keys)
The Story of Soul - a journey through the soul music in America with Eoghan, Art, Bob and Jerome Rimson (bass)
Of Ladies Lost and Found - the stories of divas that left us too soon and women that inspire her today with John
Feeling Good with Karen Underwood and Her Friends - a concert curated with John and featuring Eoghan, Davie Ryan (drums) and Dave Duffy (bass)
Generations - written with her daughter Christiana - they both tell and sing intimate stories of the joy and pain of mother / daughter relationships - again with John, Dave Whitla and Fionn
Aretha Queen of Soul - Karen and 17 talented musicians - conducted by Tom Crowley - bringing the music of Aretha to life.
Karen debuted Lilith - a song cycle commissioned by Cork’s Midsummer Festival, and written by Eadaoin O’ Donoghue with music by John O’Brien, at the 2019 Festival.
In 2021 Karen headlined Culture Night during Covid and played to a capacity of fifty percent with The Black American Songbook in The Cork Opera House.
2022 was also a big year for Karen as she performed in City Hall Cork when Mary Crilly was awarded the Freedom Of The City.
2022 and 2023 Karen sold out 5 shows in the Cork Opera House Green Room.
Karen is currently developing a new show with the Cork Opera House to premiere in Spring 2025.
Her current show available now on tour is The Music Of Nina Simone with musical director, Gary Beecher. She now looks at the life of Nina Simone with new songs and some of her personal favourites.
Karen is no stranger to Ireland and has performed in many venues across the country.
Festival Performances include:
Out To Lunch Festival, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival & The Festival of Fools (Belfast), Electric Picnic, Body and Soul Festival, Cork Guinness Jazz Festival, Clonmel Junction Festival, Mother Jones Festival, Marlay Park Walled Garden Festival and Castlepalooza.
She has whipped up audiences with her confessionary style performances at major venues throughout Ireland such as The National Concert Hall, Vicar Street, The Olympia, The Gaiety, Cork opera House, Millennium Forum Theatre Derry, INEC and many more.