Live Music This Week in DSM: Sept. 29 – Oct. 4, 2026

Don't miss this week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM)! Cheer on a sports team, shop local or visit your favorite attraction or event before or after enjoying the best live music in DSM.

This list is curated week-to-week by local music fan Bryan Farland. Visit The List – Live Music in DSM Area's Facebook page for more information. If you go to any shows, go to the venue’s online site and check for any changes, cancellations.

Be generous to musicians and waitstaff. They all need your support!

If you know of any venues that have live music in the area, that I’m not posting, please email Bryan.

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026

“Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Chantilly Lace at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
Nate Carter at the Johnston Farmers’ Market in Johnston at 4 p.m.
B. John Burns' "No Theme" Dinner Hour Livestream at 5 p.m.
Matt Woods at Live From The Gilded Palace at 7 p.m.
DSM Big Band at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $30 to $17 at tables, $15 bar seats
Blues Jam at Carl's Place in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Dan Jones & Friends at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Ripe with Boys Go to Jupiter at Wooly's in Des Moines at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Patricia Holly at Waukee Farmers’ Market on the Triangle in Waukee at 4 p.m.
Josh Sinclair at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Jake Schrodt on the patio at Gilroy’s Kitchen & Pub in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Jesse & The Medicine Men on the patio at Fenders Brewing at Pocket Park in Polk City at 6 p.m.
Phaedrus Bach with The New Bodies at xBk Live in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Trumpeter/Vocalist Benny Benack III at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $78 to $28 at table, $48 bar seat
Lincoln Grimes at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Open Mic Jam at 1833 Saloon in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Corbett Reeves at Revel Hotel in Urbandale at 7 p.m.
Open Jam at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
On The Rocks at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Mike Aceto at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Luke Fox at Confluence Brewing in Des Moines at 6 p.m. (Los Compadres Food Truck)
CeCe Stewart at Chamberlain Pub at Wesley on Grand in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Jesse & The Medicine Men at Poncho’s Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
Joshua Sinclair at Gray Moon Public Market in Newton at 6 p.m.
Jervis Campbell with Nathan Colberg at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $31.17
Happy Accident with Crooked Torus at xBk Live in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $18.94 (price & fees) (optional seating)
Trumpeter/Vocalist Benny Benack III at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $78 to $28 at table, $48 bar seat
Open Jam at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
Kenni Falls at Board & Batten Basement Speakeasy in Dallas Center at 7 p.m.
DSM Irish Session at Murph & Mary’s Pub in Newton at 7 p.m.
Turner Center – Jazz Orchestra – “Broadway Bound” at Drake University in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $35.45
Afroman at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $35.29
The Soul Searchers at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
MFKS at In Confidence Speakeasy at Hotel Fort Des Moines in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
Anthony Koester at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 2, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
The High Bidders at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
Friday Work Release Party with Bob Pace and The Dangerous Band at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
Brian Congdon at Caffrey’s Sports Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
Jenny Kohls Band at Captain Roy’s in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
The Juan & Only at Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Robbie Michael at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Corbett Reeves at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
Quinn Trilk at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m. (food truck)
Alysha Brilla at Temple Theater in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $45 to $60 seats on risers
King Iso with Taebo Tha Truth, Matt Phoenix & VenomStayDrppin at xBk Live in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $30.97 (fee included) (optional seating) – VIP Available
Kenni Falls at Kelly’s Little Nipper in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Pink Kodiak at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Alayna Ringsby at The Cave in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Mancat - Ruby at Beaverdale VFW in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Linc Henriksen at Murph & Mary’s Pub in Newton at 7 p.m.
Clint Black at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee at 7:30 p.m.; $64 to $146.90
Half Moons Full Band at Talk Shop Lounge in St. Charles at 7:30 p.m.
Midnight Radio at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
Brad Seidenfeld at Marv’s Mainstreet Dive in Norwalk at 8 p.m.
Matt Woodsd Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
Lucas Beebe at Brick & Ivy in Altoona at 8 p.m.
Recoil at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8:30 p.m.
Jordan Beem at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8:30 p.m.
Heath Alan at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
After Hours at Noce in Des Moines at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026

LaRon Rocks, Tom Hofer, Sean Gabrielson, 4Neys, Lani at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Des Moines at 7 a.m.
Luke Fox at Ted Lare Dersign Build & Garden Center in Cumming at 9 a.m.
Weary Ramblers at Heritage Jubilee at Jordan House Museum in West Des Moines at 1 p.m.
Strychnine Grand Opening (old Lefty’s) in Des Moines at 2:15 p.m. closing ($10 per show with $15 for both)
- Show #1 at 2:15 p.m.
  - Bob Pace
  - Brother Trucker
  - Loose Gravel
  - Dark Horse
- Show #2 at 9 p.m.
  - Absolute Power
  - Switchblade Saturdays
  - Jacob County & The Damaged Goods
Rick Burke at Revelton Distilling in Osceola at 4 p.m.
Malcolm Wells & The Two Timers at Captain Roy’s in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
The Juan & Only at Cowboy Mexican Bar & Grill in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
River City Opry at Windsor Heights Fall Festival at Colby Park in Windsor Heights at 6 p.m.
The Soul Searchers at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
Madison County Line at Big Rack Brew Haus in Winterset at 6 p.m. (White Smoke BBQ available)
Tucker Wetmore at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee at 6:30 p.m.; $122.83 to $166.95
Rick Burke at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Country River at Croatian Slavic Center in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
Taking Back Sunday with Thrice, Saves The Day at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $61.09
The Pork Tornadoes at The Yard (green space near GrandStay Hotel in Johnston at 7 p.m.
Mancat at 36th St. Tavern in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
Barrelhouse Rockets at Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield at 7 p.m.; $25
512: The Selena Experience at The Ingersoll in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $138 includes dinner that starts at 5:30 p.m.
Mean Mary at Progressive Voices at 1st Unitarian Church in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $24/$29
Danny Grause at Talk Shop Lounge in St. Charles at 7:30 p.m.
Saturn Ascends: Tool Tribute with Primustache: Primus Tribute at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $25/$30
Cheekface with Apes of the State, BanjoKat & The Sit-Ins at xBk Live in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $30.97 (fee included) (optional seating)
Harvest at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
HardWay at Down Under Bar & Grill in Clive at 8 p.m.
The Sons and Sara at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
Dick Danger Band at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
Decoy Duo at Marv’s Mainstreet Dive in Norwalk at 8 p.m.
Rural Route at Just One More in Jamaica at 8 p.m.
Peyton Burns at Striking Sparrow Lounge in Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026

2026 Iowa Blues Challenge at xBk Live in Des Moines
- Dogtown Rhythm Band at 12:30 p.m.
- Steffen Heins at 1:05 p.m.
- TrashKat & the AlleyRats at 1:40 p.m.
- Dave Zollo & Brian Cooper at 2:15 p.m.
- KAT Blue & the True Believers at 3:15 p.m.
- Dewey Cantrell at 3:50 p.m.
- John-Paul Jones Group at 4:30 p.m.
- Ernie Peniston Duo at 5:05 p.m.
- Fabulous TruTones at 5:45 p.m.
Bad Friends at Local Bands, Brews & Bikes at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 1 p.m.
512: The Selena Experience at The Ingersoll in Des Moines at 1 p.m.; $138 includes dinner that starts at 11 a.m.
CJC Jazz Jam Session at The Cave in Des Moines at 2 p.m.
Analog Saints with Steve Grismore at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
Corbett Reeves at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
Neva Alden at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
Randy Burk at Wilson’s Ciderhouse & Farm in Cumming at 3 p.m.
Velvet Trio at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 4 p.m.
The Weary Ramblers at Jamie Hurd Amphitheater in West Des Moines at 5 p.m. (food trucks)
Jazz Night at The Contrary in Des Moines at 8 p.m.

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Amelia Klatt

Amelia Klatt is the Director of Events for the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Her background working with nonprofit organizations has led to skills as a relationship builder and events professional. Klatt received her MPA from Drake University in 2019.