Karen Underwood: The Songs of Nina Simone

Karen Underwood tells Nina Simone's remarkable story through narration and song, with a live band and timeless classics. Part of the Story Telling Festival.

Kerry Writers’ Museum and Listowel International Storytelling Festival is delighted to welcome jazz and soul singer Karen Underwood for her debut performance in St. John’s Theatre & Arts Centre.  Karen brings to you in narration and song the engrossing life story of the great legend Nina Simone, from her struggle against racism and exile in her homeland to her flamboyant, troubled relationships and poignant later years. Karen sings all the classic Nina songs, "Strange Fruit", "Mississippi Goddamn"’, "Sinnerman", "My Baby" and "I Need a Little Sugar In My Bowl" supported by a live band featuring Gary Beecher on piano, David Whitla on bass guitar, and Davy Ryan on drums.

Singer, writer, storyteller, and public speaker Karen Underwood, originally from Chicago, Illinois, found her way to Cork in 1997. Since then, Karen has produced several shows, including ‘Singing Nina’, ‘The Story of Soul’, ‘Of Ladies Lost and Found’, ‘Generations’, ‘Soul in the City’, and ‘The Black American Songbook’, Karen’s interpretation of Black American music from the underground railroad to Cork.

She has performed at venues across Ireland including Cork Opera House, The Everyman, The Olympia, The Gate, Vicar Street, Millennium Forum Theatre, The National Concert Hall and Marley Park as well as countless others. Known as Cork’s Jazz diva, Karen enjoyed 5 sell-out shows at the Cork Opera House in October of 2024.

This performance promises a night of soul-stirring classics, passion, and timeless jazz. If you love the music of Nina Simone, this is an event you won’t want to miss.