NO COVER 4:30pm Show
Twins is a Minneapolis-based trio that performs the work of Thelonious Monk. With their unconventional line-up—Brad Holden (Original Minds) on sax, Mike Wolter (Early Planets) on guitar, and Chris Hepola (The Real Chuck NORAD) on drums—they bring a new and open approach to the Monk songbook.
Chris Hepola is a Minneapolis-based drummer, pianist, and composer who works across genres and disciplines. Chris curates and leads several genre-blending groups, including House on Fire and The Real Chuck NORAD. He also works with local favorites including the Brass Messengers, Dreamland Faces, Paul Fonfara, Joan Hutton, and Cody Steinmann. He has performed throughout North America and Europe, from small clubs to major venues like Lincoln Center, the Newport Folk Festival, the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, and Bush Hall in London. As a composer and music director, Chris has created original scores for theater and film, with work featured at Joe’s Pub in New York, Tricklock Theater in Albuquerque, the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis, and the ITSelF Festival in Warsaw, Poland.
Brad Holden is a longtime Twin Cities saxophonist with a unique voice. Originally a student of Eddie Berger, Holden honed his style on the street in New Orleans. He is deeply influenced by the improvisation of Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh. Holden is called when an authentic yet original approach to improvisation is needed.
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. He has become 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 for local nonprofits working to better the community.
