 A strong interest in the cultural life of England at the time of Jane Austen led him to establish an Austen group in Oxford, and to team up with Gillian Tunley in an ensemble called 'Austentation', since augmented by the addition of Angela Mayorga on guitar and voice, and other guests.Underwood studied lute in Oxford with Lynda Sayce and Edward FitzGibbon, and viol with Susanne Heinrich.He played lute, harpsichord and viola da gamba in Oxford-based Early Music consorts Westron Wynd and La Joysance.