Frank Martin Busch & the Names

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courtesy Frank Martin Busch

Frank Martin Busch

(2022 critics' pick) A co-founder of longtime favorite Madison Americana band WheelHouse, Frank Martin Busch has been stepping out solo, sometimes accompanied by a cast of players dubbed the Names. Busch's excellent debut album, deep and simple, came out last summer, mixing a bit of rock in his straight-ahead country sound.

media release: Frank Busch grew up on a farm outside the rural community of Cuba City, Wisconsin. The youngest of seven children in a musical family, Frank began reluctantly playing music on saxophone and drums, even playing a few shows with his fathers Big Band Orchestra. It wasn’t until he left the small town for The University of Wisconsin and commandeered his college roommates Stratocaster, that he truly fell in love with music.

Teaching himself to play, sing and write songs, Frank’s journey has been slow, painful and deliberate.Upon graduating he founded his first band The Mighty Short Bus, and is a founding member of Midwest troubadours WheelHouse. The two bands have released 8 records and played over 3,000 shows over the past 16 years.

The Names is Frank’s first foray as a true solo artist. He has brought back the Stratocaster and is living and dying by his ability to play it, He marries the storytelling of a country songwriter with the musicality of a bluesman and a sense of humor that rivals your grade school best friends dad. Often telling jokes and citing references you don’t get till the next day.

Frank Martin Busch has won Isthmus Madison’s Fave Singer/Songwriter for 2018 and 2019 and is WMMM Project M Songwriter competition season 3 winner. He is the father of 3 and has a dog named Floyd.