Live Music This Week in DSM: Sept. 8 – 13, 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. 8, 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.
Craig Swalwell Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
Vintage Cafe at the Beaverdale Farmers' Market in Des Moines at 4 p.m.
Chris Powell at the Johnston Farmers’ Market in Johnston at 4 p.m.
Igor Dimitrienko Acoustic Solo at the Newton Farmers' Market in Newton at 4 p.m.
Black Veil Brides with Caskets, Archers, Holy Wars at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 6:35 p.m.; $56.97
DSM Big Band (Basie Straight Ahead) The Sound of Count Basie & Kansas City at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $30 to $18 at tables, $18 bar seats
Blues Jam at Carl’s Place in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Luke Fox at Live From the Gilded Palace at 7 p.m.
Zane Gedler, Abram Miller, Michael Gedden at Jazz Night at The Lift in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.
Zach Top with Marty Stuart and His Superlatives at Casey's Center in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $39.75 to $121.75
Mike Aceto at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
B. John Burns at Waukee Farmers’ Market on The Triangle in Waukee at 4 p.m.
Cover That at Back Forty Bike Night at Big Barn Harley-Davidson in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
David Watson at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Jake Schrodt at The Stuffed Olive in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Piano Man Richard Spierenburg Chamberlain Pub at Wesley on Grand in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
James Biehn on the patio at Gilroy’s Kitchen & Pub in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Tony Bohnenkamp at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 6 p.m.
Saxophonist Anthony Orji & Co. at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Randy Burk & The Prisoners at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Luke Fox at Revel Hotel in Urbandale at 7 p.m.
Open Jam at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
Adam Klett at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Tim Mitchum & the Part-Time Pirates at Honky-Tonk Happy Hour at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 3 p.m.; $5
Day Ashworth at Soumas Courtyard at Hotel Pattee in Perry at 4:30 p.m.
Blues Travelers / Gin Blossoms / Spin Doctors at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 6 p.m.; $62.15 to $145.95
Lily Rose with Adam Paddock at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 6 p.m.; $28.59
Kevin Presbey at Confluence Brewing in Des Moines at 6 p.m. (Los Compadres Food Truck)
The Chezwicks at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
CeCe Stewart at Chamberlain Pub at Wesley on Grand in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Cedar Falls Rock & Roll Review at Music in the Junction & Farmers’ Market at Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Jesse & The Medicine Men at Poncho’s Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
Jordan Beem at Grimes Farm and Conservation Center Marshalltown at 6 p.m. (food trucks)
The Back Alley with Riley Jane at xBk Live in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $18.94 (price & fees) (optional seating)
The Carson Parker Trio at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $20 at tables, free bar seats
Maxwell Schaffer at Board & Batten Basement Speakeasy in Dallas Center at 7 p.m.
End of the Innocence: Eagle Wing & More at The Ingersoll in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $138 includes dinner that starts at 5:30 p.m.
Scott Eggleston 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.
Triple J’s at Yacht Club in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
Tanner Jay at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Damon Dotson at Fridays at Middlebrook Farm in Cumming at 4:30 p.m.
Rob Lumbard Duo 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 at 5 p.m.
Mike Tiedeman at Caffrey’s Sports Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
Keith Davis at Getting Down on the Farm Party in Pella at 5 p.m.
Beggars’ Bargain at Confluence Brewing in Des Moines at 6 p.m. (Peggy O’s food truck)
Heath Alan & Friends at Captain Roy’s in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
The Adaptors at Pelican Post Bar & Grille in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
The Juan & Only at Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Linc Henricksen at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Tony Bohnenkamp at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
Plastic Apartment at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m. (food truck)
Phil Shipley at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
All Shall Perish with Carnifex, Extermination Dismemberment, Mauled, & Reaping Asmodeia at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.; $34.26
Broadway Baby: A Night of Showtunes with Lauren Vilmain & Her Jazz Orchestra at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $58 to $15 at tables, $24 bar seats
Jake Schrodt at Kelly’s Little Nipper in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Mantra of Morta / Selles at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Velvet Trio at Pal Joey’s in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
FunHouse at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 7 p.m.
Jordan Beem at Soggy Frog Marina Bar at Saylorville Lake in Polk City at 7 p.m.
Luke Farland at Sticks & Balls in Indianola at 7 p.m.
honestav at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $39.93
Jefferson Starship at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $92 to $142.35
Cedar County Cobras – Album Release with The Soul Searchers at xBk Live in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $18.94 (fee included)
Caley Conway + Cathedral Becomes Tomb with Rutabaga at xBk Annex in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
Dirty Champagne at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
GRIND at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
Drew Fry at Tribute to our Heroes (specials for them) at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 8 p.m.
Lucas Beebe at Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
Encore Legends at Talk Shop Lounge in Saint Charles at 8 p.m.
After Hours at Noce in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
Matt Terronez Band at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
Nick Ryan at Murph & Mary’s Pub in Newton at 9 p.m.
Steve Bankey & The Flatland Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026

Lauren Igou, Dan & Quinn Trilk, Beggars’ Bargain, Joe Sorensen, The Travelers at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Des Moines at 7 a.m.
B. John Burns at Uptown Ankeny Farmers’ Market in Ankeny at 8 a.m.
Reload at Beaverdale VFW in Des Moines at 1 p.m.
Velvet Trio at Christian Royston Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 2 p.m.
Driving Blind at The Soggy Frog Marina Bar in Polk City at 2 p.m.
GURNFEST X - Dose, Druids, The Curse of Hail, Tearaway, Space, Happy Thoughts at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 6 p.m.; $20
Joe & Vicki Price at Captain Roy’s in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Stan Mason & Southern Rain at Big Rack Brew Haus in Winterset at 6 p.m. (BBQ available)
Madison County Line at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 6:30 p.m.; $5 (bring chairs – outdoors if possible)
Black Magic: Napoleon Douglas Sings Nat., Sammy & More … at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $58 to $15 at tables, $24 bar seats
Callum Kerr at xBk Annex in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $25 at door
Han Solo Project / Fezzik at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Salt Creek at Croatian Slavic Center in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
Gladys Lite at The Soggy Frog Marina Bar in Polk City at 7 p.m.
Branson Show - Jeff Brandt & Galaxy at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.
Back to Vinyl at Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield at 7 p.m.; $25
Minus The Bear with Keep at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $53.87
Casey Peasley at Walker’s Place in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
Fever Dog at Down Under Bar & Grill in Clive at 8 p.m.
Toni & BitterSweet at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
Dick Danger Band at Goodtimes in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
Joshua Sinclair at Lakeside Hotel Casino in Osceola at 8 p.m.
Luke Farland at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 8:30 p.m.
Jeff Banks Band at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
Last Call with Max Wellman at Noce in Des Moines at 9:30 p.m.
Orphan Annie at Marv’s Mainstreet Dive in Norwalk at 10 p.m.
Ryan Bizarri Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026

PorchFest DSM around Union Park in Des Moines from 1-4 p.m.; Schedule and map
34th Army Band of the National Guard at Hoyt Sherman Place – EMC Plaza in Des Moines at 3 p.m. (activities and concessions and food trucks at 1 p.m.)
Drive Thirty5 at Soggy Frog Marina Bar in Polk City at 1 p.m.
Sugar Valley at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
Neil Hewitt at Kippy’s Place in Elkhart at 2 p.m.
Brian Congdon at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
Casey Joe & The Foxes at Wilson’s Ciderhouse & Farm in Cumming at 3 p.m.
Yubu at The Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 4 p.m.
Nicholas Neibauer at Exile Brewing in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
Swentone Swing at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 $13 Kurt Allen Band at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $20
An Evening with Dave Moore at xBk Live in Des Moines at 6 p.m.; $20 (seated show) (seating options)
Pokey LaFarge with Cicada Rhythm at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $45.10

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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.