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!

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.
Also available for download on CD Baby and Amazon.

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

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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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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