Milton Busker has been a fixture of the Burlington music scene for over 20 years. After winning the 2002 Advance Music Acoustic Guitar Summit, he self-released the EP Dance Songs, Vol II and then laid low for about 10 years to focus on his new family. In 2012 he re-released the EP digitally with two additional tracks as “Dance Songs, Vol II+,” which Seven Days called “one of the finest local singer-songwriter releases in recent memory.” Milton Busker & The Grim Work formed in 2014 after Milton ran into his old friend and fellow guitarist David Ball at a local farmer’s market–quite possibly the most Vermont band origin story ever. Joined by mandolin player Jom Hammack, bassist John Treybal, and drummer Dave Simpson, the group developed its sound through performances around Burlington before releasing a self-titled debut album recorded with Ryan Cohen at Robot Dog Studios. Their second full-length album, Made of Stars, was recorded at Lane Gibson Studio in Charlotte, Vermont, under the guidance of Jeremy Mendicino and mastered by Ryan Cohen of Robot Dog Studio. In addition to many shows in the Chittenden County area, Milton Busker & The Grim Work recently opened up for folk legend Dar Williams and southern up-and-comers The Brook & The Bluff. The band plays a type of Americana/Alt-Country they call “suit-folk”, defined as the people’s music, all dolled up for a night on the town. It is an Appalachian ditty played by Cole Porter. It’s a gospel song for heretics. It’s hippie music for people that can’t afford to drop out. It’s a love song for the kid who couldn’t get a date but still dresses up for the dance. 

Milton Busker and the Grimm Work will light up City Hall Park with a special Fools Twilight Series concert at 6 PM. Stick around for headliner The Wolff Sisters at 7:30 pm