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!

Wedding? Special birthday? Cocktails on the patio? Let the Fleas add some fun to your next event: edukatedfleas@edukatedfleas.com

Friday, April 12

Art and Frame of Danbury opening reception

Saturday, April 20th
5:00 to 7:00 pm

Art and Frame of Danbury
60 Newtown Rd, Route 6 Plaza, 
Danbury CT

Join us at the opening reception for the art show Green! Music provided by the Edukated Fleas, hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and more. Free!
Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/ArtandFrame?ref=ts&fref=ts or http://www.artandframeofdanbury.com/.
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Thursday, October 4

WPKN Benefit and 50th Birthday Bash!

NEW DATE:
Thursday, December 13th
6pm to 9pm
Tickets at the door!


Dragone Classic Motorcars
176 Post Road West
Westport, CT

We Fleas are delighted to be a part of WPKN's 50th birthday bash and benefit! 

Sandy intervened and the party had to be rescheduled! On Thursday night, December 13, join us to kick off WPKN's celebration of 50 years of broadcasting alternative community radio on 89.5 FM!

Surrounded by an astounding collection of vintage automobiles at Dragone Classic Motorcars in Westport, CT, there will be food, drink, a silent auction, and live music by the Edukated Fleas, Larry Urbon’s Café Musette, and Cool Struttin'. Join us for this great evening and toast the best radio station on the planet. The Fleas will kick off the evening with swing tunes from the same vintage as the autos from 6pm to 7pm.

Tickets are $30 each. A personal tour of the unique collection of vintage automobiles and antique radios with car expert George Dragone livens the evening. Help support WPKN and meet your favorite programmers and listeners.

Tickets are available at the door!!! For more information please call WPKN at 203-331-9756 or visit www.wpkn.org

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Thursday, September 6

Beacon Creamery Grand Opening Celebration

Saturday, September 8th 
3:00 to 5:00 pm

Beacon Creamery (at the theatre)
445 Main St., Beacon NY

Come celebrate the opening of the new Beacon Creamery, in the renovated Beacon Theatre building! Enjoy some delicious ice cream in this 1930s style ice cream parlor, accompanied by music from the same era!

What could be better? Ukuleles and ice cream!
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Wednesday, June 27

Ukulele Workshop and Concert!

Sunday, July 15th

Sticks and Stones Farm
201 Huntingtown Road, Newtown, CT

 
Workshop: 2:00 to 3:30 pm
Concert: 4:00 to 5:00 pm
Stay and jam!

Spend a very special afternoon with the Fleas! We'll be offering a ukulele workshop -- for beginners and those who are more advanced too -- plus an Edukated Fleas concert, followed by a uke jam! Join us for the whole program, or enjoy a hike at the beautiful Sticks and Stones Farm and just come to the concert. 

Workshop: Swing and Jazz Standards, Simply! Learn how to simplify complex looking chord charts so that almost any tune is within reach! Yes, you can play it! Beginners welcome too -- loaner ukes available.

Workshop: $20; Concert $10; both $25.
To learn more or register, contact Wendy at edukatedfleas@gmail.com
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Sunday, June 24

Fifth Connecticut Ukulele Invitational!

Friday, July 6th
7:30 to 10:30 pm

Las Vetas Lounge
27 Unquowa Road, Fairfield CT 

Attention ukuleleists! Dust off those ukes, and come join us for a great ukulele evening, hosted by the Edukated Fleas and Uncle Zac! There will be a terrific lineup of ukulele performers, 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.

Right next to the train station!
Don't miss the ukulele fun!
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Tuesday, June 12

Clearwater Festival!

 
Sunday, June 17 
2:45pm

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 2:45 pm for Ukulele Madness!! For tickets, directions and more info, visit http://www.clearwater.org/festival/index.html
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Monday, June 4


New York Ukulele Festival 2012

Ethical Culture Society 
2 West 64th St.
New York, NY 10025 

Friday, June 8 through Sunday, June 10 

Fleas present a workshop at 12:30pm Saturday, June 9th!

The NY Uke Fest is not to be missed! Concerts, workshops, vendors, and a luau! WOW. Speaking of workshops, we'll be presenting ours on Saturday at 12:30: Standards, Simply! Great for advanced beginners who want to play swing and jazz standards, but who find the chords a bit daunting. Here's an easy way to get started.

Check the Fest website for more info and tickets:http://www.nyukefest.com/
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Tuesday, April 17

Fleas at the Bethel Public Library

Bethel Public Library
189 Greenwood Avenue
Bethel CT 06801

Tuesday, April 24th
7:00 p.m. FREE!

Join us for our special show, featuring a little history, much music, and lots of fun! Thanks to the Friends of the Bethel Library for hosting us. The Friends' reception starts at 6:30, and at 7:00pm it's on with the show!

FREE but registration required due to space constraints. Contact: Reference Department 203-794-8756, x4 or adult@bethellibrary.org to register.

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Monday, February 6

Wintersquabee Festival


The Rongovian Embassy
1 West Main St.
Trumansburg, NY 14886

Friday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, Feb. 26

Fleas at 6pm Saturday, Feb. 25!

Well, this should be fun! Live music ALL weekend long. Not to mention food and drink. This is a great way to survive winter, even if it hasn't been much of one. Check out http://www.facebook.com/events/242205592513034/ for the schedule of performers. Jamming every evening after the main acts, and there even may be some contra dancing! Music starts at 5pm on Friday, 11am on Saturday and Sunday.
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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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