MPR People

Mark Wheat

Host, The Current
Minnesota Public Radio
mwheat@mpr.org

Mark Wheat is heard weekdays 6-10 p.m. on The Current and a DJ with the station since it launched in 2005. He tries to emulate his hero, the late, great BBC DJ John Peel, introducing new music to the audience by mixing it with songs they know and love. Wheat was raised near Cambridge, England, permanently relocating to the United States in 1983. In 1991, he created "Local Sound Department" on KFAI, which was awarded "Best Local Radio Show" by the Minnesota Music Academy in 1996-1998. He spent 18 months at Zone 105, hosting an overnight shift, and "Across The Pond," a weekly specialty show playing music from all over the world. In 1998 he was hired as director of student programming at the University of Minnesota's Radio K and created a weekly magazine show, "The Music Lovers Club." He won the City Pages' "Best AM Radio Personality" in 2004; and "Best FM Radio Personality" in 2009. Between 1999 and 2003, he was a resident DJ at First Avenue and The Lounge for which he was awarded the honor of "Best Club DJ" in 2000-2001 by the Minnesota Music Academy.

Mark Wheat Feature Archive

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Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros performs in The Current studios

It's been two years since Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros put out their last album "Up From Below" and had the hit song of the year with "Home." Since that time, the collective has gained several new members, toured all over the world and now have a new album, "Here." (05/25/2012)

Father John Misty performs in The Current studios

Father John Misty may be a relatively new project, but the man behind it has been around for a few years now, playing in one of indie music's greatest break-out bands. J. Tillman used to drum for the mighty Pacific-Northwest act Fleet Foxes, but left the group this year to pursue his own endeavors, trading in the rootsy, experimental folk for more of a vintage rock sound. (05/11/2012)

School of Seven Bells perform live in The Current's studio

Born out of two bands -- The Secret MAchines and On!Air!Library! -- New York City's synth-dreampop act School of Seven Bells have been together for six years, but have grown with their line up changes. Originally, the project consisted of identical twin sisters Alejandra (On!Air!Library!) and Claudia Deheza and guitarist Benjamin Curtis (Secret Machines). However, Claudia left the band in 2010 before the latest record "Ghostory." (04/27/2012)

The Lumineers performs in The Current studios

It's not difficult to imagine The Lumineers being from the Midwest - let's just go ahead and annex their hometown of Denver. Their roots revivalist image and solid harmonies are indicative of the kind of music this region has helped popularize over the years. Their story is one which many bands can connect with - slowly gaining popularity across a self-booked tour with just an EP in tow. The Lumineers have now gathered more than a few accolades to make their self-titled debut one of the most anticipated records this year, and they're already selling out venues in support of it. (04/11/2012)

Metronomy performs in The Current studios

Metronomy's "The Look" was one of the hottest songs to come out in 2011, harnessed on an electronic minimalism that made the track's hook immediately danceable. It didn't hurt that the rest of the album "The English Riviera" was also a fine exploration of pop music, ensuring that frontman Joseph Mount would have a hit on his hands. (04/05/2012)

Emeli Sande performs in The Current studio

With a voice that brings to mind artists like Nina Simone and Lauryn Hill while remaining unique and fresh, Emeli Sande has been making waves in the UK for several years. With her debut album "Our Version of Events" she is aiming to gain the same attention in the US. (03/05/2012)

Islands perform in The Current studio

The demise of popular indie band The Unicorns at the beginning of the aughts left many fans feeling a void. Prolific pioneers of lo-fi indie pop, frontman Nick Thorburn would of course not be gone for long. In 2006, the music world was rocked by the critically acclaimed debut album by Islands, "Return To The Sea," an experimental, long-form record that would go on to inspire countless musicians, especially in the Canadian music scene. (03/02/2012)

Dr. Dog performs in The Current studio

It's hard to believe it's already been 13 years since Dr. Dog first started making music. Once considered an extremely underground act playing shows to support their "Easy Beat" album, their first for a record label in the early aughts, they've since gone on to tour alongside The Spinto Band, My Morning Jacket and The Raconteurs. (02/17/2012)

Doomtree Performs Live in the UBS Forum

Doomtree's members have all been featured in the spotlight for their solo projects, but it has become a rare sight to see the collective perform together in recent years. So when their newest album "No Kings" was announced, people in the Twin Cities were understandably buzzing about the idea of more group collaboration in a live setting. (12/09/2011)

Mark Wheat Interviews Doomtree

The Doomtree collective stopped by for a live performance in MPR's UBS Forum to celebrate the release of "No Kings," their newest album. On-air host Mark Wheat sat down for a chat with the group inbetween songs. Enjoy our video of their conversation. (12/09/2011)

Polica performs live in The Current studio

Polica had already recorded their first full-length before debuting on the local music circuit. So the mystery behind them after their inaugural show in September 2011 was already remarkably large, especially considering the musicians' previous projects like Roma di Luna, Bon Iver, and GAYNGS. (12/02/2011)

Ximena Sarinana performs live in The Current studio

Ximena Sarinana released her critically acclaimed debut album "Mediocre" in 2008 and cemented her reputation in both Mexico and the United States with two Latin Grammy Awards nominations and an American Grammy Awards nomination under her belt. She's credited with helping to bring back the style of nueva cancion, a genre of Latin-folk popular in the 1960s-80s. (11/16/2011)

Dan Mangan performs in The Current studios

Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Dan Mangan has been making sturdy, smart music for nearly a decade now. In September, he released his third full-length album, "Oh Fortune." (11/01/2011)

OMD perform in The Current studios

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, better known by their acronym OMD, began their career in the UK in 1978, trading in synth-pop, new wave and experimental post-punk sounds for nearly two decades before lead singer and bassist Andy McCluskey (at that point the only remaining original member) called it quits. The original line-up reunited in 2005, and have been touring and recording ever since. (09/28/2011)

Grieves performs live in The Current studio

Performing under the name Grieves, the hip hop duo comprised of Benjamin Laub and multi-instrumentalist Josh Karp, who goes by Budo are one of the latest additions to the local label Rhymesayers. While both came from the Seattle scene, it was until they were both in central Illinois that they met. (09/23/2011)