After a three-year absence, Karen Egan returns with a brand new album, Charlatanne, and a five-stop tour of Ireland.

Formerly of comedy singing trio, The Nualas, Egan has taken her three-year hiatus to go back to the drawing board; she replaces cabaret with a variety of music genres including hip-hop, jazz, bluegrass and gospel, along with a whole host of others.

In 2011, Karen was invited to Pori, south-west Finland, as guest artist for Rakastajat-teatteri – Finland’s largest independent theatre company – where she has acted in a number of plays in Finnish and also performed her own musical shows. Charlatanne was launched in Pori in April 2014 to great acclaim and now it’s time to bring it to Ireland.

In May of 2014 she was awarded Artist in Residence at the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris and was also invited to perform at the celebrated Féte de la Musique. Soon thereafter, Egan performed at the renowned Pompidou Centre in Paris.

Living between Finland and Ireland has given Egan the opportunity to draw from two contrasting cultures and influences. Embedding an incredible period of change and adjustment, many of the songs from this new album were composed during this very creative time.

The process of making an album is a demanding business, but Karen emphatically states that it’s “worth every penny if it’s done right, with the best musicians”.

Karen Egan will perform in four venues around Ireland before finishing in Whelan’s for her album launch.

Tour dates below:

ISLAND ARTS CENTRE, Lisburn

Friday 13 February | 8.00pm |  £12 stg

Box Office: +44 (028) 92 509 254 | www.islandartscentre.com

DOWN ARTS CENTRE, Downpatrick

Saturday 14 February | 8.00pm |  £12 / £10 stg

Box Office: +44 (028) 4461 0747 | www.downartscentre.com

UPSTAIRS @ DOLANS, Limerick

Friday 27 February | 8.00pm |  €15

Box Office: 061 314 483 | www.dolans.ie

MONROES LIVE, Galway

Saturday 28 February | 8.30pm | €20/€18

Box Office: 087 978 3245 | www.monroes.ie

WHELAN’S, Dublin

Friday 6 March | Doors 8.00pm | €20

Box Office: Locall 1890 200 078 | www.whelanslive.com