Live Music This Week in DSM: Aug. 5 – 10, 2025

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes The Band Spam, Yubu, Velvet Trio and Iowa State Fair acts at live music venues across the region. Check them out at restaurants and nightlife businesses while grabbing a bite or enjoying a cocktail. And don’t forget to connect through other things to do, too. 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.

Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Jim Dandy & the Kountry Rebels at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
• Remedy Quartet at Beaverdale Farmers’ Market at 4 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Adel Farmers’ Market at 4 p.m.
• Swenson Jazz Duo at Latin King at 5:30 p.m.
• The Band Spam at Sugar Shack Diner in Altoona at 5:30 p.m.
• The Crowfoot Rakes at Music in the Garden at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens in the Historic East Village at 6:30 p.m.; $12 (seniors $11)
• KENO Album Release with special guests at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $15 + fees DoS (seating options)
• Adam Bruce, Buz Owen, Danny Russell Wolf at The Lift at 7 p.m.
• Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7 p.m.
• Jazz Jam featuring Sebastian Ramirez, Yoni Perez, Grillo at The Cave at 7 p.m.
• Basement Philosophers Society at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• The Sons and Sara at Nights in the Heights at Colby Park in Windsor Heights at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025

• Jeff Stagg at Waukee Farmers’ Market Historic Triangle at 4 p.m.
• Matt Biegger at Bike Night at Sully’s Irish Pub in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Luke Farland at Classic Car Cruise in at Slater Station at 5 p.m.
• The Soul Searchers at Either/Or at 6 p.m.
• Jake Schrodt at Stuffed Olive in Historic Court District at 6 p.m.
• NOLA Jazz Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
• Yubu on the patio at Gilroy’s Kitchen in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Henry Rosener at The Ducktail Lounge in Clive at 6 p.m.
• RetroSpect Trio at Bike Night at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 6 p.m.
• Good Company at Cumming Tap at 6 p.m.
• Sharpie Smile at Lefty’s at 6:30 p.m.; $18/$20
• Plastic Apartment at Zoo Brew at Blank Park Zoo at 7 p.m.; $25 ($10 members) (21+ event)
• Galactic Empire at Wooly’s in Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $29.55
• Brother Trucker at Maggie’s Rumble Room at 7 p.m.
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Blues Bureau at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• VEAUX and Fox Royale with Nathan Thiessen Band at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $20 + fees DoS (seating options)
• Sierra Griggs at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Allie Crummy at Polk City Town Square Farmers’ Market at 4:30 p.m.
• Daygo Abortions / The Brothels / Old Dogs / Disorderly Conduct at Lefty’s at 5:30 p.m.; $20/$25 DoS
• Neil Anders at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• Dick Danger Band at Music in The Junction in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Velvet Trio at Destination Grill Rooftop in Grimes at 6 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair on the patio at TrailSide Tap in Ankeny at 6 p.m.
• Diplomats of Solid Sound at Music in the Garden at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens at 6:30 p.m.; $12 (seniors $11)
• Beaux Jenkins at Board & Batten LLC in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Jessie Murph with Worldwide Hysteria, Jorjiana at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 7 p.m.; $50.68 to $264.49
• Sam Ross & Co. at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.
• Tony McGhee Project at Hawkeye Elks Lodge 160 at 7 p.m.; $5
• Citizen Soldier with !0 Years, Adelitas Way at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $44.50
• Open Jam with house band at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• Three Dog Night at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 7:30 p.m.; $45 to $99
• The Sons of Gladys Kravitz at Tunes at Twilight at Johnston Town Center in Johnston at 7:30
• Live Music at In Confidence Speakeasy at Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• The Soul Searchers at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Emmett Sheehan at Bix & Co. in West Des Moines at 8:30 p.m.
• The Road Warriors Tour at Lefty’s at 9 p.m.; $10 /$15 DoS
• On The Rocks at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Iowa State Fair at the Iowa State Fairgrounds (Thursday)

• Brad Weston at Fun Forest Stage at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
• Kelsie Knapp at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at Noon
• Zach Freedom at Bubbly Bar & Bistro at 12:30 p.m.
• Brad Seidenfeld at Jalapeno Pete’s at 1 p.m.
• Emmett Sheehan at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 2:30 p.m.
• Stark Raging Madge at Jalapeno Pete’s at 4 p.m.
• Aiden Flathers at Bud Tent at 4 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at Blue Ribbon Bar at 5 p.m.
• The Birdhunters at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 5 p.m.
• Garrett Speer at Bud Tent at 6 p.m.
• Toast3r at Bubbly Bar & Bistro at 6:30 p.m.
• The Sinclairs at Iowa Craft Beer Tent at 7 p.m.
• Royce Johns at Blue Ribbon Bar at 7 p.m.
• Daniel Johnson at Stockman’s Inn at 7 p.m.
• Forrest Frank with Lecrae at Grandstand at 8 p.m.; $34-$64
• Ty Myers at Susan Knapp Amphitheater at 8 p.m.
• The Schmidt Brothers at Jalapeno Pete’s at 8 p.m.
• Tyler Richton & The High Bank Boys at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 8 p.m.
• Ty Meyers at Susan Knapp Amphitheater at 8 p.m.
• Bryan Martin at Bud Tent at 9 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 8, 2025

• The Crowfoot Rakes at The Farm at Middlebrook Agrihood in Cumming at 4:30 p.m.
• Stone Peace at Klokkenspel Plaza in Pella at 4:30 p.m.
• Dustin Baird at Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 5 p.m.
• Friday Work Release Party with Bob Pace and The Dangerous Band at Greenwood Lounge at 5 p.m.
• February with thisworldisnotkind at Lefty’s at 5:30 p.m.; $15/ $20 DoS
• Brian Congdon at Bevy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• David Watson at Caffrey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
• Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
• Hot Bunch at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• The Drama Kings at Beaverdale VFW at 6 p.m.
• The Juan & Only at El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Chad Elliott at Firetrucker Brewing in Ankeny at 6 p.m.
• Piano Man Richard at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Sugar Valley at Firepit Fridays - Cellar Winery in Madrid at 6 p.m.
• Missouri Mule at Murph & Mary’s Pub in Newton at 6 p.m.
• Luke Farland & Corey Jamison at Smash Park in West Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.
• Taylor King at B&B Theaters in Ankeny at 6:30 p.m.
• Mihali at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village 7 p.m.; $33.15
• (Not) The Law with 10 Watt Jukebox and the High Bidders at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $20 + fees DoS (seating options)
• Fly Me To The Moon: The Max Wellman Big Band Plays Sinatra & More at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $59, $49, $46, $42, $36 at table, $25 bar seat
• 10-15 Local Iowa Artists at 1833 Saloon at 7 p.m.; $15
• Abram Miller - Michael Gedden - Jake Schubert at The Cave at 7 p.m.
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Grain Powered Duo at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• Luke Thomas at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Not Sisters at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 7 p.m.
• Buffalo Joe at Bike Night at 1833 Saloon at 8 p.m.
• Dan Trilk at 6th Ave Listening Room - 520 Euclid Ave - Suite 103 at 8 p.m.; $20
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Flat Tire Lounge in Madrid at 8 p.m.
• Neil Anders at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
• Brick n’ Bob Duo at The Port at Lake Panorama in Panora at 8 p.m.
• Jenny Kohls Band at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• Second Half / The Mesmerists / Triple Elvis at Lefty’s at 9:30 p.m.; $10
• Route 66 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Iowa State Fair at the Iowa State Fairgrounds (Friday)

• Alexis Curran at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at Noon
• Pickleback at Bubbly Bar & Bistro at 12:30 p.m.
• Royce Johns Duo at Jalapeno Pete’s at 1 p.m.
• Jake Schrodt at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 2 p.m.
• Haywire at Blue Ribbon Bar at 2 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at Bud Tent at 4 p.m.
• The Bird Hunters at Jalapeno Pete’s at 4:30 p.m.
• The Sheet at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 5 p.m.
• KC All Stars at Blue Ribbon Bar at 6 p.m.
• Garrett Speer at Bud tent at 6 p.m.
• Decoy at Bubbly Bar & Bistro at 6:30 p.m.
• The Nadas at Mid-American Energy Stage at 7 p.m.
• Dave Zollo & The Body Electric at Stockman’s Inn at 7 p.m.
• Richard Arndt at Iowa Craft Beer Tent at 7 p.m.
• Tyler Richton & The High Bank Boys at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 8 p.m.
• Creed Fisher at Susan Knapp Amphitheater at 8 p.m.
• Parker McCollum with Josh Abbott Band at Grandstand at 8 p.m.; $54-$94
• Tony Bohnenkamp & Pianopalooza at Jalapeno Pete’s at 8:30 p.m.
• The Nadas at Mid-American Energy Stage at 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025

• Zachary Freedom, B. John Burns, Sydney Storm, Piano Man Richard Spierenburg, Jacob Forney, BYOBrass at DSM Downtown Farmers’ Market at 7 a.m.
• Brittany Sword at Annie’s Irish Pub at Noon
• David Watson at 1908 Draught House in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Nick Hermann at 1908 Draught House in Norwalk at 5 p.m.
• Steve Grismore Trio at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
• The People's Band at Captain Roy's at 6 p.m.
• Fred Gazzo Quintet at Anna Dolce Ristorante in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Jill & Tyler on the patio at Fenders Brewing in Polk City at 6 p.m.
• Torch Songs: Lauren Vilmain with Her Jazz Orchestra at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.
• The Spill Canvas with Don’t Panic, On Hiatus at Lefty’s at 7 p.m. (doors); $25 adv.
• The Drama Kings at The Station on Ingersoll at 7 p.m.
• Unforgiven at Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
• MFKS at HiFi Brew Lounge in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Jones & Owens Trio at Shirley’s Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Luke Farland on the patio at Mickey’s Irish Pub at Waukee at 7 p.m.
• AboVe Ground pool Party at The Port at Lake Panorama in Panora at 8 p.m.
• Rural Route at Drifter’s at Bouton at 8 p.m.
• Jeff Banks Band at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• Hold On at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Iowa State Fair at the Iowa State Fairgrounds (Saturday)

• Lucas Beebe at Stockman’s Inn at 11 a.m.
• Owen Justice at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at Noon
• Sierra Griggs Band at Bubbly Bar & Bistro at 12:30 p.m.
• Josh Sinclair at Jalapeno Pete’s at 1 p.m.
• Fahrenheit at Blue Ribbon Bar at 2 p.m.
• Emmett Sheehan at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 2:30 p.m.
• Emma Storm at Iowa Craft Beer Tent at 3 p.m.
• Xolex at Jalapeno Pete’s at 4 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 5 p.m.
• KC All Stars at Blue Ribbon Bar at 6 p.m.
• Chris Ferrara & The Common Good at Bud Tent at 6 p.m.
• Toast3r at Bubbly Bar & Bistro at 6:30 p.m.
• The Sheet at Iowa Craft Beer Tent at 7 p.m.
• The Flying Silos at Stockman’s Inn at 7 p.m.
• The End (Beatles Tribute) at Mid-American Energy Stage at 8 p.m.
• Tyler Richton & The High Bank Boys at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 8 p.m.
• Waylon Wyatt at Susan Knapp Amphitheater at 8 p.m.
• Megan Moroney with Kameron Marlowe at Grandstand at 8 p.m.; $54-$94
• Cory Waller & The Wicked Things at Jalapeno Pete’s at 8:30 p.m.
• Burnin' Sensations at Good Times in Ankeny at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025

• Pullin’ Strings at Local Bands, Brews & Bikes at DSM BierGarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 1 p.m.
• The Crowfoot Rakes at Captain Roy's at 2 p.m.
• Jana West & RetroSpect at Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 2 p.m.
• Yubu at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
• Opus Taylor at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 2 p.m.
• Brick Imerman at Whistlin’ Donkey Sports Bar & Grill in Woodward at 2 p.m.
• Joe Demerath at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Stringfield at Wilson’s Orchard & Farm in Cumming at 3 p.m.
• Chris Powell at Wellman’s West in West Des Moines at 4 p.m.
• David Watson on the patio at Exile Brewing at 5 p.m.
• Nick Leo / Eric Krieger Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• Al Godfredsen at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13
• Dirk Quinn Band at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $20
• The Punching Pandas at Jamie Hurd Amphitheater in West Des Moines at 6 p.m. (food trucks)
• Dessa and The 29:11 South African Choir with Nella Thomas at Levitt AMP Earlham Music Series at Earlham City Park in Earlham at 6 p.m.
• Zao with Balmora, In Loving Memory, Girl of Glass, Godseyes at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $25 + fees DoS (seating options)
• Ice Nine Kills: Dayseeker, Kim Dracula & More, Hell of a Summer Tour at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee at 6:30 p.m.; $71 to $130
• KC Bones (playing Grateful Dead) at Lefty’s at 7 p.m. (doors); $20 adv.

Iowa State Fair at the Iowa State Fairgrounds (Sunday)

• James Biehn JR’s SouthPork Ranch at Noon
• Mark Joseph at Bubbly Bar & Bistro at 12:30 p.m.
• Haywire at Jalapeno Pete’s at 1 p.m.
• Liv McNair at Blue Ribbon Bar at 2 p.m.
• The Sheet at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 2:30 p.m.
• Jeni Grouws at Jalapeno Pete’s at 4:30 p.m.
• The Band Light at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 6 p.m.
• Banda La Enkantadora at Blue Ribbon Bar at 6 p.m.
• Suede at Bubbly Bar & Bistro at 6:30 p.m.
• The Weary Ramblers at Stockman’s Inn at 7 p.m.
• Justin Elliott & Aaron Ely Duo at Iowa Craft Beer Tent at 7 p.m.
• Parrenderos Latin Combo at Anne & Bill Riley Stage at 7 p.m.
• Pecos and the Rooftops at Mid-American Energy Stage at 8 p.m.
• Gruppo 515 at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at 8 p.m.
• The Castellows at Susan Knapp Amphitheater at 8 p.m.
• Pitbull with Neon Union at Grandstand at 8 p.m.; $59 - $104
• Birdchild at Jalapeno Pete’s at 8:30 p.m.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership calendar of events is a one-stop resource for activities taking place throughout the region. Find networking information for Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses, including Chamber luncheons, roundtables and ribbon cuttings. You can also find live music happening each week thanks to the “Live Music This Week in DSM” blog series.