Milk St. Studios of Dover a space for Seacoast musicians to play and connect

DOVER — Milk St. Studios aims to provide a home away from home for the Seacoast music community.

The new business offers space for rent where local musicians can come together to practice and create.

"It's filled a void," said Frank Itri, a local musician who rents one of the studios.

Kurt Eddins, owner of Milk St. Studios, bought the space in January.

Eddins said he was inspired to create a music co-work space after visiting the Record Co. in Boston. He said he'd never seen a model like that created anywhere else.

Eddins has been playing music since a young age, but he didn't get serious until about eight years ago when he bought a drum set. He said with a laugh that he played at his house with friends for years, but with a young child at home, he needed a separate space to practice and pursue his passion. Finding the space on Milk Street, he has been able to replicate the "community vibe" he saw at the Record Co. in Boston.

Milk St. Studios has six sound-proof studios; month-to-month or hourly rates

Eddins hired SP Lapierre Construction to completely renovate the space, which was formerly a warehouse owned by Blier Flooring. They created six sound-proof studio spaces and an aesthetic lounge/kitchenette area where they plan to hold small-scale concerts.

The walls in each studio space were constructed to be double wide, to be nearly soundproof.

The co-work music studio space officially opened in July, and by mid-August almost all of the studio rooms were rented. Each rented studio is private to the lessee, with the communal lounge space a co-work space, as well as The Beatles Room. Five out of the six studio spaces are month-to-month rentals, but The Beatles Room is available to be rented by the hour, complete with all the equipment a musician would need.

Each studio is named after an iconic artist, such as the Nirvana Room, the Zeppelin Room, the Tom Petty Room, The Secret Room and the Hendrix Room.

Studio complete with all equipment needed to jam

The Beatles Room is equipped with guitar and bass amps, drums, a piano, a PA system, a room mic, and for audio and recording, a webcam to provide a video livestream option. The cost of the gear and recording is included in the $30 hourly rate. Renters who need assistance from staff with recording will incur an extra charge depending on the size of the project.

The monthly rates for the other rooms are $900 for the largest space and $700 for the smaller rooms.

While all of the month-to-month studios are currently booked, Eddins said they are going to create a waitlist.

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"[We're] trying to find ways to accommodate anyone who needs a space," said Eddins.

Eddins said they are looking into creating more studios in the building, as there's space available in the back, as well as a former showroom space. Screamer Custom Guitars will have a repair shop in the back, too.

Collaborative space has brought musicians together

Eddins said the space has proved to be a great collaborative space for musicians. Jarred Ganeau, Jed Allen, Sebastian Franks, Ben Goldrich and Frank Itri did not know each other before coming together and practicing in The Beatles Room.

"The room's awesome. It's nice to have a space not just in the Seacoast, but in New Hampshire," said Ganeau, who jammed on an electric guitar as the group of musicians played together.

On Saturday, Nov. 16, Milk St. Studios will be hosting its first concert, capped at 50-60 people, in the lounge. Local artists Andrea Paquin and April Cushman will perform solo acoustic music sets. Tickets are being sold on EventBrite .

"Music is a super important part of my life from a mental and spiritual (standpoint). .... It's just fun," said Eddins.

Information: milkststudios.com

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Milk St. Studios of Dover a space for Seacoast musicians to play and connect