Karen Underwood

Singer, writer, storyteller, and public speaker Karen Underwood, resides in Cork. From Chicago, Illinois, Karen found her way to Cork in 1997.

She has a BS in Psychology, University of Illinois and a HDIP in Psychotherapy, UCC. Karen Lives the music and learned the music from what she refers to as, “The university without walls”.

Karen has performed at The Cork opera House, The Everyman, The Olympia, The Gate, Vicar Street, The Blackbox, The National Concert Hall and Marley Park and countless other venues in Ireland.

She is a confessionary style performer.

Karen has written and produced:

The Nina In Me, an autobiographical show about her life performed at several venues across the North and South of Ireland

Singing Nina, the life of Nina Simone-Vicar Street

The Story of Soul, the journey of soul music in America

Of Ladies Lost and Found, the stories of divas that left us too soon and women that inspire her today

Feeling Good with Karen Underwood and her friends -Marlay Park Festival

Soul in the City - An annual festival each year since 2014-2021 which she produced highlighting soul music

The Black American Songbook, Karen’s interpretation of Black American music from the underground railroad to Cork debuted Cork Opera House Jazz 2021

Blue -Eyed Soul, a continuation of Soul in the City September 2022 in City Hall Cork

Love Me or Leave Me, 5 sellout shows on Karen’s experiences about love and relationships

And now she brings The Unchristmas, December 2022 her concert in the White Horse, Ballincollig. Karen will bring you the music of Nina Simone, Quincy Jones, Nat King Cole, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and many more with stories that only she can tell from her Chicago roots with her friend John O’Brien on arrangements and keys

This is a limited capacity gig so get your tickets now!