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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The Chart Show: Jan. 3, 2013

Did a new year mean a new #1 song? Find out on this week's Chart Show! (01/03/2013)

The Chart Show: Dec. 20, 2012

The last chart of the year sees a big re-shuffle at the top and 3 new entries. (12/20/2012)

Chart Show, Dec. 13

This week's new #1 artist has spent most weeks on the chart this year. (12/13/2012)

Field Report performs in The Current studio

Beards, blue jeans, sweaters and flannel. Field Report came to The Current dressed in the winter uniform of the Midwest. (11/16/2012)

Lianne La Havas performs in The Current studio

David Letterman. Conan O'Brien. The Current. That's a killer itinerary of live performances for a single week. Fresh from her Late Show performance last week, English folk and soul singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas performs in The Current studio. (11/12/2012)

Album Review: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Psychedelic Pill

Neil Young dislikes mp3s and took pains to make this record as analog as possible, believing this to be the only way that fans can hear his soul, the time he puts into making his music and the wisdom of a life lived playing and performing. (11/05/2012)

Passion Pit performs in The Current studio

Passion Pit, the indie electro-pop project of Cambridge, Mass.-based songwriter Michael Angelakos, broke through with 2009's devastatingly catchy single "The Reeling" and returned this year with a sophomore album. (10/30/2012)

Sea Wolf performs in The Current studio

Los Angeles' Sea Wolf are a vehicle for singer-songwriter Alex Church, whose emotive and lyrically nuanced indie folk has earned him a sizable following. (10/26/2012)

Theft of the Dial: Beach House

Baltimore duo Beach House stopped by The Current studios to chat with Mark Wheat, take over our airwaves and play some of the songs they're feeling lately. (10/18/2012)

Night Moves perform in The Current studio

The hype surrounding Night Moves' debut landed them on the roster of esteemed UK indie label Domino Records. Now, the band returns with a revamped and re-recorded take on the album. (10/15/2012)

The Head and the Heart perform in The Current studio

From opening act at First Avenue a year ago to headlining back-to-back shows this week, The Head and the Heart have had a big year. They stopped by The Current studio to debut a new song. (09/27/2012)

Musicheads Essentials: Led Zeppelin III

Led Zeppelin's influence on modern music is undeniable but... which of their LPs is essential? 1970's "III" was the last breath taken by a band who were still mere mortals, mates from the Midlands trying hard to make a career out of this fledgling rock industry. (09/25/2012)