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Welcome to the Frankfort Bluegrass Festival, winner of the 2018 IBMA Event of the Year Award. Our mission is to bring top quality award-winning national and regional bluegrass acts to downtown Frankfort, IL to showcase this truly American music. We are a 100% non-for-profit free 2 day festival only made possible by dedicated volunteers, donations and sponsorships from people like you.The 9th Annual Frankfort Bluegrass Festival is a not-for-profit FREE two-day family friendly event featuring 20+ top-notch national and regional bluegrass bands performing on two stages, with jamming tents, a kids tent and activities area, workshops, food and craft vendors and more.
Musicians range from Grammy winning and International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Award winning pacesetters to up-and-coming bright talent carrying the torch for a new generation.
We are proud to be a nationally recognized event, having been awarded the "Best Event of the Year" in 2019 by the by The International Bluegrass Association (IBMA), and nominated for Event Of The Year for the previous two years (2016 and 2017). The only even tin the Midwest nominated to be in the top 5 .
Put on solely by passionate volunteers, our mission is to promote the preservation and education of bluegrass music, a true traditional American musical art form, in beautiful historic downtown Frankfort, IL and beyond. This event is made possible only by your generous donations and sponsorships, and of course all the dedicated volunteers.
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Wheels North Biography
Wheels North is a Progressive Bluegrass band from the Chicagoland area comprised of Mark Frystak (guitar/vocal), Hayley Skreens (banjo/vocal), Jesse Fuller (bass/vocal) and Chris Grant (fiddle). Wheels North offers powerful three-part harmonies, skillfully crafted song arrangements, and an enticing catalog of originals and covers. Their live show is engaging and energetic, and challenges the limits of grass based music.
Mark Frystak provides a driving force on his Martin D-28 dreadnought guitar while leading vocal duties. Frystak's warm vocal tone & exploration of rhythm idiosyncrasies are cornerstones of his playing, spearheading the direction of each piece. As the former frontman of Close Enough, Frystak has carried on his inventive design of song to Wheels North.
Hayley Skreens delivers heart and soul with her signature vocal and banjo style. Her jazz-country vocal approach and melodic banjo interpretation are deliberately expressed in this progressive bluegrass band. Having worked as a nationally touring artist for years in Under the Willow, she is happy to ground roots in the Chicagoland area.
Jesse Fuller brings a stunningly thoughtful element to the upright bass. Instinctively knowing the needs of each piece is his foremost strength on bass, vocals, and in arrangement. Fuller has most recently collaborated with the nationally touring act River Valley Rangers, and is now lending his laundry list of talents to Wheels North.
Chris Grant offers his eclectic fiddle style to complete the Wheels North sound. Having musical history in jazz, classical and gypsy fiddle, he yields a wide array of skills to further twist the take on newgrass. Grant has collaborated with a myriad of projects, and in addition to Wheels North you can find him slaying on the telecaster in the outstanding band, Tiny Country.
Read MoreMark Frystak provides a driving force on his Martin D-28 dreadnought guitar while leading vocal duties. Frystak's warm vocal tone & exploration of rhythm idiosyncrasies are cornerstones of his playing, spearheading the direction of each piece. As the former frontman of Close Enough, Frystak has carried on his inventive design of song to Wheels North.
Hayley Skreens delivers heart and soul with her signature vocal and banjo style. Her jazz-country vocal approach and melodic banjo interpretation are deliberately expressed in this progressive bluegrass band. Having worked as a nationally touring artist for years in Under the Willow, she is happy to ground roots in the Chicagoland area.
Jesse Fuller brings a stunningly thoughtful element to the upright bass. Instinctively knowing the needs of each piece is his foremost strength on bass, vocals, and in arrangement. Fuller has most recently collaborated with the nationally touring act River Valley Rangers, and is now lending his laundry list of talents to Wheels North.
Chris Grant offers his eclectic fiddle style to complete the Wheels North sound. Having musical history in jazz, classical and gypsy fiddle, he yields a wide array of skills to further twist the take on newgrass. Grant has collaborated with a myriad of projects, and in addition to Wheels North you can find him slaying on the telecaster in the outstanding band, Tiny Country.
Americana
Bluegrass
Jamgrass
Progressive Bluegrass
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