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

Friday, January 4

Happy Uke Year! January dates...

🎵 Brunch at Note! Sunday, January 6th, 11:30 am 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! Just the thing for a winter weekend. No cover charge.
🎼Swing Jam! Sunday, January 13th, 10 am til 1:30 pm. Bank Square Coffeehouse, Main St. Beacon, NY. All instruments and listeners welcome. 

 NEW! Ukulele Open Mic! Thursday, January 17th, 7:00 til 9:30 pm. Towne Crier Cafe, 379 Main St., Beacon NY. Join us at the kick-off and help make this event a regular bimonthly occurrence! Sign up in person starting at 5pm. Come and share your love of this amazing little instrument with a community of other like-minded aficionados! Here’s your chance to show off your uke chops, debut a new song, or just take that first step of playing in front of a supportive audience of ukulele fans. Hosted by Wendy Matthews of the Edukated Fleas, she’ll be keeping an ear out for performers to feature at the next Hudson Valley Ukulele Invitational! 
 
🍽 Brunch at the Towne Crier! Sunday, January 27th, 11:30 til 2:30 pm. Towne Crier Cafe, 379 Main St., Beacon NY. Come in from the cold and join us for a cozy winter Ukulele Swing brunch! Tasty, toe-tapping tunes and tasty food! No cover charge.
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Monday, December 10

Ho-Ho-Holiday Brunch!

Sunday, December 16th

11:30 til 2:30

Towne Crier Cafe

379 Main St., Beacon NY

Join us at the Crier for the holiday edition of our Ukulele Swing brunch! Take a break from all the hustle and bustle and enjoy some great food in a great venue, with lots of fun tunes to tap your toes to! Dancing always encouraged as are reservations!
No cover!

Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year! 

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Thursday, November 29

Holiday gifts! Now with FREE SHIPPING!

Looking for the ideal gift 🎁 for the ukulele or swing aficionado?

Look no further! The Edukated Fleas 2018 recording It Had to Be Uke is just the thing! And now, in time for the holidays, you’ll get FREE SHIPPING! Here’s how:

🎄Directly from us: use this link: PayPal.Me/edukatedfleas/15 for one CD and PayPal.Me/edukatedfleas/30 for two. You save $3.50!

🎄From CD Baby: buy any three CDs (including ours, we hope), get free shipping.

It’s also available on CD or MP3 from Amazon… if you order enough CDs or other stuff, shipping is free! 😁

🎁 Or you can buy it from us in person at our Ho-Ho-Holiday Brunch at the Towne Crier Café on Sunday, December 16th from 11:30 til 2:30!
We have Fleabag tote bags too, just the perfect size! 

Thank you for supporting the Fleas!
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Thursday, November 8

Second Hudson Valley Ukulele Invitational!

Attention ukulele players and enthusiasts! Don’t miss the Second Hudson Valley Ukulele Invitational, hosted by 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 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 2:15. Join us and ensure you get a great seat for the Invitational.
Reservations suggested: Call 845-855-1300

Towne Crier Cafe, 379 Main St., Beacon NY 12508
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Tuesday, October 2

Where to find the Fleas in October!

🎤Coffeehouse concert series! Friday, October 12, 7:00 til 8:30 pm, Hall Memorial Library, 93 Main St, Ellington, CT.  We're delighted to be part of the library's popular coffeehouse series! Join us, it's free.

🎼Swing Jam! Sunday, October 14th, 10 am til 1:30 pm. Bank Square Coffeehouse, Main St. Beacon, NY. All instruments and listeners welcome.

🍀 Celtic Night (with a little swing on the side), Sunday, October 14, 5:00 til 7:30 pm, The Abbey Restaurant and Bar, 132 Danbury Rd., New Milford CT
Wendy and Greg will join host Uncle Bill Whiskey (AKA Bill Wisnowski) as the special musical guests at Celtic Night! We'll be doing some swingy Fleas tunes and Tin Pan Alley favorites along with Celtic and Americana music! The Abbey has terrific food and drink specials at happy hour prices! No cover, tips appreciated.

🎵 Fleas in Concert at Croton Library! Friday, October 19, 7:30 til 9:00pm, Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Drive, Croton-On-Hudson, NY. This will be a special event in a wonderful theatre with the fabulous Mark Murphy joining us on bass. And it's free!

🎸 Uke from Scratch! Saturday, October 20th, 3:00 til 4:30 pm, Fairfield LIbrary, 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield CT. The ukulele workshop for complete beginners! No uke, no problem, we have loaners to share. Free, but registration required. Contact the library to register.

🍽 Brunch at the Towne Crier! Sunday, October 21st, 11:30 til 2:30 pm,
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.
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Friday, August 31

See you in September!

🎼Swing Jam! Sunday, September 9th, 10 am til 1:30 pm. Bank Square Coffeehouse, Main St. Beacon, NY. If the weather is good, we'll be out on the patio! All instruments and listeners welcome.


💐Ukulele send-off for Paul Cundari For those who knew and played with Paul, Georgia is arranging a ukulele send-off for him on Saturday, September 22nd. Please email me if you would like to attend. 

🎸 First Connecticut Ukulele Festival! Saturday, September 29th, 12 noon til 9:30 pm, Suzuki Music School of Westport, 246 Post Road East, Lower Level. Workshops! Including one from the Fleas, plus an open mic and group strums. Plus, evening concert featuring CT performers including the Fleas, Uncle Zac and more, plus headliner Victoria Vox! More info and tickets here. 
 
🍽 Brunch at Note Kitchen! Sunday, September 30th, 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.


SAVE THE DATE!
The Second Hudson Valley Ukulele Invitational will take place on Sunday, Nov. 18th from 2:30 til 5:30 pm! Towne Crier Cafe, Beacon NY! Stay tuned for details! Lots of great uke acts, playalongs and more! 
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Tuesday, August 7

Dog Days of August with the Fleas!


🎼Swing Jam! Sunday, August 12th, 10 am til 1:30 pm. Bank Square Coffeehouse, Main St. Beacon, NY. if the weather is good, we'll be out on the patio! All instruments and listeners welcome.

🎤 Fluke at Molten Java! Friday, August 17th, 7:30 til 9:30 pm, 213 Greenwood Avenue, Bethel CT. Molten now serves beer and wine, so come join us for a happy Friday libation, a snack and some fun tunes! No cover charge, tips appreciated. Fluke is Julie Sorcek, flute and Wendy Matthews, ukulele.  

Saturday, August 18, noon until ? Putnam Park, Bethel. Rain date Saturday, August 25. Bring your uke and food and drink to share and join the happening!

🍽 Brunch at the Towne Crier! Sunday, August 19, 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.

🎶 Celtic Night (with a little swing on the side), Sunday, August 19, 5:00 til 7:30 pm, The Abbey Restaurant and Bar, 132 Danbury Rd., New Milford CT
Wendy and Greg will join host Uncle Bill Whiskey (AKA Bill Wisnowski) as the special musical guests at Celtic Night! We'll be doing some swingy Fleas tunes and Tin Pan Alley favorites along with Celtic and Americana music! The Abbey has terrific food and drink specials at happy hour prices! No cover, tips appreciated.

LEARN TO PLAY THE UKE! Join Wendy for the Beginner 1 series of three workshops in Bethel:
  🎸Beginner 1 ukulele classes
What: Uke 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!
Where: Upstairs at Molten Java in Bethel, CT
When: Mondays at 7pm, Aug. 13, 20 and 27
Cost: $45 for all three classes. To sign up please email Wendy at edukatedfleas@gmail.com! Space is limited.
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