The Big Hits… On Small Instruments!

Ukuleles are small. Yet, ukulele duet Greg Doyle and Wendy Matthews play the big hits, favoring swing and vintage tunes – as well as a few things you might not expect to hear on uke. The Fleas have been playing together as a ukulele duo since late 2006, united by a common love of the music from the 20s through 50s. As the Fleas soon discovered, ukes are perfect for these cheerful, melodic tunes. The Fleas feature both Greg and Wendy on vocals, often in harmony.

Greg Doyle, on baritone uke, is a guitarist whose musical interests span Swing to Surf and beyond. He has been playing guitar since his teens and was a long-time member of Vic Schwarz’s Acoustic Workshop, a Hudson Valley-based, six-piece string band. Greg teaches uke and guitar privately.

Wendy Matthews, on soprano uke, was charmed by the instrument’s portability and quirkiness, and took it up a few years back to accompany her singing. She has been singing and playing a variety of instruments since her teens. In a previous life, she was a member of Bad Attitudes, a four-woman music and comedy troupe.

The Fleas have delighted audiences in venues as varied as the Clearwater Festival, Hoot on the Hudson, Ukulele Cabaret and New York Ukulele Festival, as well as street fairs, restaurants, libraries, art openings and private parties across New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine. On her travels, Wendy has also performed in exotic locales such as Honduras and Borneo!

The Fleas have recorded six of their favorite swing tunes on a demo CD. If you would like a copy for your very own, email us at edukatedfleas@edukatedfleas.com. Just $6.

They are currently working on a full length CD. Thanks for listening!

Invite the Fleas to play at your next event: edukatedfleas@edukatedfleas.com

Sunday, November 20

Fourth Connecticut Ukulele Invitational!


Friday, December 2nd
7:30 to 10:30 pm

Hideaway Cafe
127 South Main Street, Newtown CT

Come join us for a great ukulele evening, hosted by the Edukated Fleas! There will be a terrific lineup of ukulele performers (details to be announced soon), plus PLAY ALONGS! Yes, everybody gets to play, so bring your uke!
And, we'll close the evening with a ukulele open mic, time permitting.

Don't miss the ukulele fun!
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Thursday, October 20

Fleas Live on the Radio!

Wednesday, October 26th
5 pm

WPKN
89.5 FM or streaming at wpkn.org

You missed it? Listen to the archived show! Go here: : http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/listen/26763
We come on an hour into the show, and are on for another hour!

Richard Epstein has invited the Fleas to be on his excellent radio show, Sometimes Classical! We’ll play some tunes live, talk about the ukulele world, and share music by some of our favorite ukulele performers. If you’re in Southern CT or Long Island, tune in at 89.5 FM. Or you can catch the show streaming live at wpkn.org.

Thanks for listening!

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Wednesday, October 12

Check out our NEW YouTube video!

This was filmed by Tom Knight of Tom Knight Productions www.tomknight.com at the 2011 Mohegan Storytelling and Music Festival. Hope that you enjoy it!
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Thursday, September 1

Fleas events in September

Catch the Fleas at one of these upcoming events. All events are free, though donations are most welcome.

Saturday September 10, 5pm, Music on the Squares. On the VFW Hall porch, corner of Main St. and Teller Ave., Beacon NY

Sunday, September 11, 2:30 to 6pm, Hoot on the Hudson. Little Stony Point Park, Cold Spring NY

Friday, September 23, 7 to 9pm, Dorothy’s Music Room. 19 West Main Street, Trumansburg, NY

Saturday, September 24, 5 to 11:30 pm, Heebasquabee Festival. Covert Road, Hector NY

Musicians! Join our monthly Swing Jam! Bank Square Coffeehouse, 129 Main St., Beacon NY. Sundays, 10 to 2, Sept. 11, Oct. 9…all instruments welcome.

This lovely photo was taken by Cappy Hotchkiss at a wonderful wedding at which we performed in July. Check out her work at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cappy-Hotchkiss-Photography/322871673299
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Thursday, July 28

Mohegan Colony Storytelling and Music Festival

Saturday, August 13
99 Baron de Hirsch Rd., Crompond, NY 10517
12:30 to 10:30 pm

The Fleas are playing both stages, and will be leading a ukulele jam!

Main stage set: 3:30pm
Uke jam: 5pm

Rain or shine, all venues covered

Breaking news! Bring your uke and get a 50% discount!

Eleventh annual! Nationally acclaimed storytellers and great music, what a combination! A full afternoon of music and stories on two stages -- main stage and family stage -- and an evening Ghost Story (and music) concert complete with flickering candlelight.

Bring a picnic and your ukulele (or your singing voice)! Outdoor picnic areas -- and a special ukulele jamming area -- will be available, plus we'll be leading a sing-along, play-along.

There's even a storytelling workshop with Bob Reiser, starting at 10:00 a.m. that is sure to sell out, so reserve your spot today!

Tickets are available for individual segments -- or the entire event. For more details and to reserve tickets, go to: http://www.storycircleatproctors.org/hv/mohegan/ and click on Judith Heineman or Ellen Monten.
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Thursday, July 14

A Celebration of America's Promise

The Henry L. Wallace Center at the
FDR Presidential Library and Home
4097 Albany Post Road
Hyde Park, NY 12538

Thursday, July 21st
4 pm to 6 pm

This celebration of all the New Deal stood for is the culmination of the statewide caravan put together by Citizen Action NY to restore America's promise. Complete with music from the era, provided by the Edukated Fleas! Find out more and RSVP (due to limited capacity) at http://citizenactionny.org/americanpromise
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Thursday, May 19

Fleas at the Clearwater Festival!


Saturday, June 18
12:30pm

Clearwater Festival
The Great Hudson River Revival
Croton Point Park, Croton NY

The Fleas are delighted to be appearing at Clearwater again this year! And, we are proud to be representing the ukulele world at this huge music festival. Find us at the Circle of Song stage at 12:30 pm for Ukes Duet Together. For tickets, directions and more info, visit http://www.clearwater.org/festival/index.html
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Thursday, April 21

New York Uke Fest!


Thursday through Saturday, May 5 to 7
Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th St. (9th Ave), New York City

The Fleas are playing in the Thursday night, May 5th concert!

Don't miss this great annual event -- when NYC comes alive to the happy plink of ukuleles. The Fleas are delighted to be a part of it. Concerts! Workshops! Vendors! Jamming! The Thursday luau, and much more!

Speaking of workshops, the Fleas are leading one on Thursday afternoon that will help beginning intermediate players who want to play standards simplify those complex chord charts.

Tickets are available for individual segments -- or the entire event. Check the Uke Fest web site for more details and to get your tickets: www.nyukefest.com
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Tuesday, March 29

A Special Evening with the Fleas at BWC Coffeehouse!

Bronxville Women's Club, 135 Midland Avenue, Bronxville NY 10708

Friday, April 8th, 8 pm – 10 pm

Kick off your weekend at this casual coffeehouse in a beautiful landmark building. A dessert and coffee buffet is included and you are invited to bring your dinner or BYOB. Come join us at this special evening of music with the Fleas!

Tips for performers gratefully accepted! $10 members; $13 non-members.
Posted by at 12:53 PM 0 comments

Monday, March 21

Uke Hut, NYC

Downstairs at Maui Taco, 330 5th Ave. (between 32nd and 33rd) NYC

Saturday, March 26th, 8:30 pm
We are pleased to be back at this great ukulele venue, this time as part of a uke show that includes the Jack Lords and the Uke Men.

The fun starts at 7:00 pm; the Fleas will be on at 8:30 for a 40-minute set.

"NYC's coolest new lounge, around the corner from the Empire State Building, featuring many of NYC's best uke talent. Good food and cheap drinks in a chill surf-shack themed bar."
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