The EduKated Fleas - Ukulele Swing!

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

Saturday, July 7

July dates!

First off, thanks to all of you that came out and supported the Fleas and our new CD endeavor on July 6 at the High Note and June 22 at the Towne Crier. You folks warm our hearts!!

And now, on to the rest of the month, starting tomorrow!

Swing Jam! Sunday, July 8th, 10am til 1:30pm. Bank Square Coffeehouse, Main St. Beacon, NY. Weather looks to be spectacular, so we'll be out on the patio! All instruments and listeners welcome.

Masonic Village, Friday, July 13, 6pm, One Masonic way, Elizabethtown PA. Dinner concert on the patio; indoors at the tavern if weather is inclement. Public invited.

Brunch at Note Kitchen & Bar with SJK Jazz, Sunday, July 15, Greenwood Ave. Bethel. NOT a Fleas gig, but Wendy is the vocalist with this keyboard-based quartet.

Uke from Scratch! Saturday, July 21st, 10:30 til noon, A Common Ground, 33 Crosby St, Danbury, Connecticut 06810 The workshop for total beginners! $20 per person, includes use of a loaner uke. Those with their own ukes welcome too. To register and reserve your spot, email Jill Hancock at acommonground@live.com.

Brunch at the Towne Crier! Sunday, July 22nd, 11:30 til 2:30pm, Towne Crier Cafe 379 Main St., Beacon NY. Join us for our Ukulele Swing brunch! Tasty, toe-tapping tunes and tasty food! No cover charge.

.... And more Uke from Scratch! in July at these libraries! Contact the library to register.

Thursday, July 26, 7pm: Sarah Hull Hallock Free LIbrary, Milton, NY
Saturday, July 28, 1pm: Croton Free Library, Croton-on-Hudson, NY

Fleas CDs available!

Get your very own copy of the Fleas' new CD, It Had to Be Uke, directly from us! $15 + 3.50 if you'd like it mailed to you. Just use this link: PayPal.Me/edukatedfleas/18.50 `

Also available for download on CD Baby and Amazon.

Tuesday, June 19

July 6th! CD Release Party, Connecticut Edition!

Friday, July 6th, 7:00pm

The High Note at Note Kitchen & Bar,

227 Greenwood Ave, 2nd Floor, Bethel CT

Join us to celebrate the long-awaited release of our new album! We'd love to have you be part of the fun. FREE!

We are delighted to announce that the fabulous Mark Murphy will be joining us on bass!

Special guest Julie Sorcek and Fluke will open the show!

Raffle entry with every CD purchased! Giveaways too!!

Note's excellent dinner and pub menus will be available for your enjoyment!

Of course, we'll also be playing songs from the CD!

The CDs are in!

If you can't make it to the party and you'd like a CD, you can get your copy directly from us! $15 + 3.50 if you'd like it mailed to you. Just use this link: PayPal.Me/edukatedfleas/18.50 `

Wednesday, June 13

June's Jumpin' with Fleas!

Art & Frame opening reception, Saturday, June 9th, 5pm til 7pm, Art & Frame Of Danbury, Route 6 Plaza, 60 Newtown Rd, Danbury, CT. Join us for the opening of "Abstracted Thoughts," an exhibition of abstract works by local artists. Art & Frame openings are always lots of fun: live music (that's us), food and drink, and interesting art to peruse. Come enjoy a convivial evening! Free.

Swing Jam! Sunday, June 10th, 10am til 1:30pm. Bank Square Coffeehouse, Main St. Beacon, NY. If the weather's good, we'll be out on the patio! All instruments and listeners welcome.

Clearwater Festival! Sunday, June 17. Croton Point Park, Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520. We'll be performing at the Circle of Song from 1:15 til 2pm. You'll also find us hosting a jam at the jam tent from 3 til 4pm. Tickets and more info: https://www.clearwaterfestival.org/

Don't forget the big event this month!

It Had To Be Uke! The Edukated Fleas CD release party! Friday, June 22nd, 6:30 til 8:30pm. Towne Crier Cafe 379 Main St., Beacon NY. Join us to celebrate the long-awaited release of our new album! Lots of fun things planned including a vintage costume contest, special guests and giveaways! And, of course, there will be tunes!!!

And last but not least:

Uke from Scratch! Thursday, June 28th, 2 til 3:30pm. Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill CT. The workshop for total beginners, complete with loaner ukes for you to use.

Thursday, May 10

May fun with the Fleas

Swing Jam! Sunday, May 13, 10 am til 1:30 pm. Bank Square Coffeehouse, Main St. Beacon, NY. Our second Sunday Swing Jam continues! All instruments and listeners welcome.

Redding Hive! Saturday, May 19th, 11:00 til 3:00. Fleas play from 11 til 12 noon! Topstone Park, 72 Topstone Rd., Redding. Local businesses will sell their merchandise, food trucks provide lunch, plus live music! Free! Find out more here https://www.facebook.com/events/175681593242355/ and here thereddinghive.com.

Brunch at Towne Crier! Sunday, May 20, 11:30 til 2:30.
Towne Crier Cafe, 379 Main St., Beacon NY.
Join the Fleas for our ukulele swing brunch! Great food, great venue and lots of fun tunes to tap your toes to. No cover!

Thursday, April 5

April dates!

Swing Jam! Sunday, April 8, 10 am til 1:30 pm. Bank Square Coffeehouse, Main St. Beacon, NY. Our second Sunday Swing Jam continues! All instruments and listeners welcome.

Celtic Night (with a little swing on the side), Sunday, April 15, 5 til 7:30 pm, The Abbey Restaurant and Bar, 132 Danbury Rd., New Milford CT. Wendy will join her Fluke partner Julie Sorcek and co-host Uncle Bill Whiskey (AKA Bill Wisnowski) for some Celtic tunes along with their regular Fluke repertoire. Happy Hour food and drink specials too! No cover, tips appreciated.

Brunch at Towne Crier! Sunday, April 29, 11:30 til 2:30. Towne Crier Cafe, 379 Main St., Beacon NY. Join the Fleas for our fun ukulele swing brunch! No cover charge.

Friday, March 9

March into Spring with the Fleas!

We're back in the SWING of things and look forward to seeing your friendly faces at these upcoming events! Or join Wendy for a uke class.

Brunch at Note Kitchen and Bar! Sunday, March 18, 11:30 til 2:30 pm. Note Kitchen & Bar, 227 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, CT 06801. Bethel's best restaurant -- delicious, innovative food, plus there is always music at Note! What could be better? No cover charge.

Brunch at Towne Crier! Sunday, March 25, 11:30 til 2:30. Towne Crier Cafe, 379 Main St., Beacon NY. We're delighted to be back at the Crier! Join us for a ukulele swing brunch! No cover charge. http://townecc.tunestub.com/event.cfm?id=277587&cart

New ukulele class:

For advanced beginners and intermediates

What: Gussy up your three-chord tunes: Learn techniques for making any three-chord tune more sophisticated and interesting to play. Passing chords, chord extensions and grace notes, slides, walkdowns, and playing up the neck will all be explored. .
Where: Upstairs at Molten Java in Bethel CT
When: Mondays at 7pm, March 19, 26, April 2, and 9
OR Saturdays at 10:30am, March 24, 31, April 7 and 14
Cost: $60 for all four classes.
To sign up or if you have questions, please email Wendy at edukatedfleas@gmail.com!

Wednesday, December 6

Ho-Ho-Holiday Brunch at the Towne Crier!

Join the Fleas for a swinging holiday brunch!

Sunday, December 17th, 11:30 am til 2:30 pm

Towne Crier Cafe,
379 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

Great food in a great venue -- complete with ukuleles! (What more could you want?)
No cover charge. Call for reservations: 845-855-1300 or
online at http://townecc.tunestub.com/event.cfm?id=271953&cart

Last chance to see the Fleas in 2017!

Wednesday, October 25

First Hudson Valley Ukulele Invitational

Coming in November!

Towne Crier Café
Main St. Stage

Beacon NY

Sunday, November 19
2:30 til 5:30 pm

Attention ukulele players and enthusiasts! Don’t miss the first-ever Hudson Valley Ukulele Invitational, hosted by ukulele duo, the Edukated Fleas. Come hear a range of ukulele talent from across the tri-state area!

Play-alongs too, so don’t forget your uke!

Full bar and the Towne Crier’s great food and fabulous desserts to take advantage of!

Suggested donation: $5 to $10 to cover our expenses.

Come for lunch or brunch and stay for the Invitational!

The Fleas will be providing some ukulele swing for your brunching pleasure from 11:30 until 2:30. Join us and ensure you get a great seat for the Invitational.

Call for reservations: 845-855-1300

Tuesday, October 3

October with the Fleas!

Plain Jane's! Saturday, October 7th, 7 til 9 pm, 208 Greenwood Ave., Bethel CT
Come join us for a tasty dinner or a glass of wine in a cozy atmosphere. No cover charge.
Reservations: (203) 797-1515

Swing Jam! Sunday, October 8th, 10 am til 1:30 pm. Bank Square Coffeehouse, Main St. Beacon, NY. All instruments and listeners welcome.

Warrups Farm, Sunday, Oct. 15, 12 til 2 pm, 11 John Read Road, Redding CT
Visit a real New England farm for pumpkins, hayrides and other fall delights -- including music from the Fleas!

Towne Crier Brunch, Sunday, Oct. 22, 11:30 til 2:30 pm, 379 Main St, Beacon, NY We're pleased to be back at the Crier after a couple of months away. Come join us for a Ukulele Swing brunch! Great food in a great music venue. No cover charge.

Beginner 2 ukulele classes!

If you already have a little bit of experience or have taken my Beginner 1, this class is for you!

What: Uke from Scratch, Beginner 2. Join Wendy for a series of three workshops that will help you get comfortable with chord progressions and strums in popular keys. Lots of tunes, too!

Where: Upstairs at Molten Java in Bethel

When: Mondays at 7pm, Oct. 16, 23 and 30

Cost: $45 for all three classes. To sign up please email Wendy at edukatedfleas@gmail.com!

Intermediate classes in the works too.

Coming in November! Ukulele Invitational!

YES! It's back by popular demand.

First Hudson Valley Ukulele Invitational

Towne Crier Cafe, Beacon NY

Sunday, November 19th, 2:30 til 5:30 pm.

Wednesday, September 6

See you in September!!

Upcoming Flea dates

Swing Jam! Sunday, September 10, 10 am til 1:30 pm. Bank Square Coffeehouse, Main St. Beacon, NY. All instruments and listeners welcome.

Note Kitchen! Sunday, September 17, 11:30 til 2:30 pm. Note Kitchen & Bar, 227 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, CT 06801. Bethel's best restaurant -- delicious, innovative food, plus there is always music at Note! What could be better? No cover charge.

Plain Jane's! Saturday, October 7th, 7 til 9pm, 208 Greenwood Ave., Bethel CT
Come join us for a tasty dinner or a glass of wine in a cozy atmosphere. No cover charge.
Reservations recommended: (203) 797-1515

New beginner ukulele classes!

Longing to learn to play the uke? Have friends or family who want to? It's easy!

What: Uke from Scratch, Beginner 1. Join Wendy for a series of three workshops that will get you started with easy chords and progressions. You'll be playing tunes in no time!