We happily welcome Mike Wolter and Friends every second Wednesday of the month, and i't’s free!!
Mike Wolter plays in multiple instrumental bands in town. His bands pull heavily from the Twin Cities brass band and avant jazz scenes. The tunes range from early jazz to Ornette and Brazilian choro to Balkan burners, and so much more.
Polem features Mike Wolter on guitar, Kameron Markworth on bass, and Joey Van Phillips on the drums. The trio draws its influence for both its original repertoire and their unique approach to outside material from albums including Andrew Hill's "Time Lines," Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique," Bobby Hutcherson's "Montara," De La Sol's "De La Sol is Dead," and Duke Ellingrton's "Money Jungle."
Upon relocating to the Twin Cities guitarist and composer Mike Wolter dug into a variety of the local music scenes often working with musicians from both the preeminent vanguard and the eclectic fringe, becoming one of the area's most sought after guitarists and band leaders. In 2021 Wolter’s interest in the intersection of music and social change inspired him to repurpose a sizable grant he received from the St. Paul Arts Board for showcasing his music to include, and bring together, the varied musical acts from around town he admired while also raising several thousand dollars that went back into local nonprofits working to better the community. Performance credits for Wolter include Sarah Greer, Brandon Wozniak, Anthony Cox, Bryan Nichols, Debbie Duncan, Nathan Hanson, Kevin Washington, Bryan Murray, Erik Fratzke, Michelle Kinney, Liz Draper, Chris Hepola, The Better Mistakes, and many more. Wolter has performed at The Dakota, Ice House, Hook and Ladder, the MetroNOME, The Aster, Berlin, Volstead's, The Lexington, and many other clubs and venues in and around the Twin Cities.
Joey Van Phillips is a drummer, percussionist, father, husband, actuary, television enthusiast, little-league coach, chicken wing expert. A third-generation drummer and acclaimed and versatile musician, Joey’s career has spanned over two decades, dozens of records and multiple continents. He has written for, recorded, and performed with Dessa, Aby Wolf, Jonatha Brooke, and theGrammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra. In 2017, Joey released his debut album, Punch Bowl.
To read more about this endeavor, visit his incredibly outdated website at jvpmusic.net.
Kameron Markworth is a bassist, composer, teacher, and improviser based in Minnesota. A fixture in the Twin Cities music scene, he’s performed and recorded with a wide array of artists, including recent appearances on Joan Hutton and Sue Orfield’s fearless album Splash (2024, Shifting Paradigm Records) and Peter Kogan’s Just Before Midnight (2022, KoganNote Records). As an educator, he helps students demystify music theory, develop their ears, and learn how to not panic during a bass solo
Better Mistakes