What started as busking with their band on the streets of Boston is turning out to be a full-time career for Old Rochester Regional graduates Ben Burns and Ian Jones.

The best friends, part of a five-man band called Grey Season, were recently invited to record their first full-length album at the prestigious Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY.

Known as The Barn, the studio was founded by The Band drummer Levon Helm, who passed away last year. Helm’s in-house studio has welcomed artists Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Booker T. Jones, Gillian Welch and John Mayer among many others.

So when music producer Benny Grotto, approached the Grey Season after a set in Boston and asked if they’d like to record at Helm’s studio, “Our jaws kind of dropped,” said Burns, who hails from Mattapoisett.

The Grey Season was originally a folk trio that Jones met when they were playing on the streets of Boston.

“I became friends with them. I wanted to be in the band, but there wasn’t really a place for me,” said Jones, a bass player and native of Rochester.

With all of the members as well as Burns and Jones connected to the Berklee College of Music, Jones said, “I knew if the band went to electric we’d be a perfect fit.”

Eventually, two members of the band and Jones rented a house together. Burns later joined them.

Soon after, the ORR grads sat in on a recording session with the trio: Jon Mills, Chris “Gooch” Bloniarz and Matt Knelman. It went well, so “so we figured it might as well be a band,” said Burns, a drummer.

All multi-instrumentalists, the Grey Season has developed a small following with its original music, what Burns describes as “folk disguised in a rock and roll band.”

But the reality of their January recording dates at The Barn hasn’t quite set in for the bandmates.

“I came to school having a very basic idea of what I was going to,” said Jones. “I was ready to ride the wings of destiny wherever they take me, and that’s definitely happening.”

For Jones and Burns, who have played together since junior high, the band’s progress and camaraderie is something they’ve search for.

“We were always trying to do music growing up…we wanted to build a community,” said Jones. “The guys from Boston, they all had the same influences that me and Ben did. It’s a brotherhood…not a loose band of musicians.”

To help with studio costs and to promote the album, the band is hoping to raise at least $10,000 through the online crowdsourcing site Kickstarter. So far, they’ve just exceeded the halfway mark and need the full amount by Dec. 30.

And by the way Burns and Jones talk, they’re not expecting the Grey Season to be one hit wonders.

“You’re not allowed to leave this group. This is what we’re committed to,” said Jones. Plus, it’s helpful to have a good friend along for the ride.

“It’s rare that you carry on after high school with your best friend,” Jones said. “I can’t imagine doing it with anyone else.”

To learn more about the band or to donate to their campaign visit Kickstarter.