Wheels North

Holy moly we couldn't be more stoked to be a part of the Frankfort Bluegrass Festival 2025 lineup! Check out this amazing lineup! Del McCoury Band, Tony Trischka's Earljam, Henhouse Prowlers, East Nash Grass, Special Consensus, Rick Faris Band, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Nu-Blu, Johnny & the Yooahoos, Nick Dumas & Branchline, The Grateful String Band, Fox Crossing String Band, Anderlik Otto & Church....AND MORE! We are all beyond lucky for this FREE event! Wheels North is a progressive Newgrass band from Northern Illinois comprised of Hayley Skreens (banjo/vocal), Mark Frystak (guitar/vocal), Jesse Fuller (bass/vocal) and Chris Grant (violin). 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, challenging the limits of grass-based music. Having released their first full length album, Arrival, in November 2024 Wheels North is excited to get their second album in the works! 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 band. Having worked as a nationally touring artist for years in Under the Willow, she is happy to ground roots in the Chicagoland area. 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 carries on his inventive song design to Wheels North. Jesse Fuller brings a stunningly thoughtful element to bluegrass bass. The electric bass is chosen as a nod to the greats of the Newgrass genre, with the intention to push boundaries and his rock background. Instinctively knowing the needs of each piece is his foremost strength on bass, vocals, and 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 violin 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.