Karen Clarke Blues Woman

From wind-beaten stages in the lower North Island to late-night sessions deep in the Taranaki back blocks, Karen Clarke has been holding down the groove for decades. Now a rising force in Aotearoa’s indie blues scene, her live show hits like afreight train — one woman, one guitar, and all the damn feelings.
This indie mama owns her own damn sound — a gritty, groove-driven mix of blues, RnB, alt-country with an occasional jazz dalliance. If you’re after clichéd boy-blues, keep walking.
Clarke’s got pipes. Her powerhouse honeyed vocal oozes warmth and soul, with textures that range from velvet to sass and gravel. Fans appreciate hints of Tracey Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Amy Winehouse, Whirimako Black and Billie Holiday.
Her gutsy, driving rhythm guitar work anchors the show.
Live, she’s warm, sharp, and dangerously disarming. A quiet storm — until the fire kicks in. No ego. Just presence, power, and stories that sting. You don’t just watch a Karen Clarke set — you feel it. She doesn’t just entertain — she shifts the room.
Her writing hits home with songs of belonging, tangled love, and midlife messiness. With NZ blues heavyweight Darren Watson producing, Clarke’s latest recordings come with serious bite.
Karen Clarke isn’t chasing trends — she’s blazing her own damn trail. Honest. Gutsy. Unmissable. Go see this one woman boil up if you want to feel something real.
Originally from the greater Wellington scene Karen is currently based in Taranaki where she is the Chair of the burgeoning Taranaki Singer Songwriters movement and hosts an intimate acoustic venue The Sound Shed.