Celebrated musician settles down in Concord and sets up shop

By Tim Goodwin - Mar 4, 2014 | 0 comments

Wall decorations include a Vinx original painting.

The studio.

Vinx’s wall of fame, featuring pictures of himself with cool people and in cool places.

Vinx De’Jon Parrette in his natural habitat. Well, one of them, anyway.

If you were to ask Vinx De’Jon Parrette about his touring days, there are just too many venues and countries to list.

The guy has been traveling the world playing music since 1978, and is still at it today. Vinx (as he is known around the world) has performed at the foot of the Swiss Alps, been the opening act for one of Sting’s world tours and captivated audiences in opera houses, wine bars and clubs across Europe. Just imagine the scrap book he could have if he took the Insider with him on each trip.

Vinx’s career has taken him to places most people can only dream of visiting, but where he’d most like to perform these days is the Dreamsicle Listening Club in Suncook. It’s the perfect blend of the smaller venues he has played over the years as a solo vocalist and percussionist. And it just so happens to also be the business he owns with his girlfriend, Jennifer Lambert of Concord.

Many people believe the two are married since they wear matching rings and even use the words husband and wife. It’s come to a point where they don’t even correct people.

The two first met in 2006 when Lambert was attending a workshop at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where Vinx had been invited to perform and now teaches workshops in the summer. The two kept in touch and soon their friendship turned into a business relationship, with Lambert taking over as Vinx’s manager in 2009.

“We clearly had the same passion for music,” said Lambert, who sang in a local band for years. “It was kind of a perfect storm that brought us together.”

At that point in his life, it made sense for Vinx to make the move to New England. He was looking for a change of scenery after living previously in Georgia and Los Angeles, so after a few short stops in Fairlee, Vt. and Dublin, N.H. it eventually led him to Concord, where Lambert had lived since 1990. 

“When I came up here from Berklee, I really liked New Hampshire,” said Vinx. “I was looking for that back country living. It didn’t hurt that Jenn was living here.”

In previous houses, Vinx had dedicated a space to his music. But when he came to Concord, it just wasn’t feasible. Soon, it became clear that Dreamsicle Arts & Entertainment Group was the next logical step.

“Trying to find a place to live and work was impossible,” said Vinx. “The houses just weren’t big enough to have a studio.”

The original plan was to open the business in Concord, but when Lambert found a Craigslist ad for the Main Street location in Suncook, it fit every criteria. It was an old printing company with 2,400-square feet of space that needed a face lift. It gave them the opportunity to build their dream. Turn the space into what they truly envisioned. Guess it’s only appropriate they named it Dream(sicle).

“It’s not a new idea, but it’s new to this area,” said Vinx. “This has a kind of a blown-out house concert feeling.”

Some people think the two live at the studio because of the warm and homey feel when you walk in the door, but that’s not the case. It’s just an illusion they’ve created. They didn’t want it to be just another music venue. They wanted a unique experience.

“We knew we could create a club for people who really wanted to listen to music,” said Lambert.

The listening club fits 50 people at tables and chairs, as well as a couch in the back corner. The stage is just a few feet off the floor to give an intimate feel between performer and audience. It’s almost like you’re part of the band.

“Once we got it all tricked out, the vibe was great,” said Vinx. “It was so attractive to other artists they’d say, ‘I really want to do a show here.’ ”

But the “red room” as Lambert and Vinx call it, is just a part of what Dreamsicle is about. There’s a giant producer’s board like one you only see in music videos and movies where Vinx can put the final touches on his most recent work. A sound proof recording studio houses a lot of his instruments. There’s a window to the production station, so Vinx can communicate with other artists. But when he’s creating his own music, a keyboard inside the studio allows for Vinx to do everything himself. And a number of Vinx’s musical friends will also use the space when they’re on the East Coast.

The space is also used for music lessons and acting classes, as well as the Songwriter’s Soul Kitchen workshop.

“We aren’t a typical venue,” said Lambert. “People come because they want to experience something different.”

It turns out Vinx can really do just about anything. Did you know he was an Olympic level triple jumper? Yeah, he qualified for the 1980 United States track & field team with the second best jump in the world, but didn’t compete due to the U.S. boycott of the Moscow games.

And while his days of long winded world tours are over, Vinx still travels once a month to perform. He and Lambert recently returned from Russia and are set for another two-week adventure at the end of March. This tour will take them to places like Dubrovnik, Montenegro, Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom. There are also stops planned for Baltimore and Chicago this month. And right now, Lambert is working on his November tour.

“I’m still finding new places for him to play,” said Lambert.

It’s a hectic schedule, but one they’ve grown to enjoy. They build in vacation days during tours to make the most out of their trips. And being together makes it much more enjoyable.

“The places we go are amazing,” said Vinx. “I was tired of it until she started coming with me. Before it was just work.”

But they also enjoy being home and at Dreamsicle. They felt there was a need for live music in the area. And after one year of shows, the community has shown they were right.

For more information about Dreamsicle or to view the performance schedule, visit dreamsiclearts.com.