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!
Looking for a great gift? The Fleas' full-length CD, "It Had To Be Uke" is now available! Get it directly from us: $15 + 3.50 if you'd like it mailed to you. Just use this link to our PayPal page.
Clearwater Festival The Great Hudson River Revival Croton Point Park, Croton NY
The Fleas are delighted to be appearing at Clearwater again this year! Find us at the Circle of Song stage at 3:15 pm forUkulele Madness. For more info, visit http://www.clearwater.org/festival/index.html
The Fleas are looking forward to being part of this citywide music festival. There's a great lineup of ukulele performers, including Victoria Vox, Les Chauds Lapins, Bliss Blood, Peter Stampfel, and many other greats!
The Edukated Fleas are in the 7pm set. http://www.makemusicny.org/