Live Music This Week in DSM: May 20 – 25, 2025

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes Matt Woods, Mule, Neva Alden, Drive Thirty5, Craig Campbell with Jordan Beem and Brad Morgan 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, May 20, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Kowboy Kix at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
• B. John Burns' "86" Dinner Hour Livestream at 5 p.m.
• The Band Spam at Sugar Shack Diner in Altoona at 5:30 p.m.
• Matt Woods at Grinnell Central Park in Grinnell at 5:30 p.m.
• Volume with 10 Watt Robot, Goalie Fight at Lefty's at 6:30 p.m.
• Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7 p.m.
• Locker & Co. at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• Austin Brown, Heaven Drugs, Dr Koba at The Lift at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

• Joshua Sinclair at Out to Lunch at High Street from 7th to 9th Streets from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Rober Deitch at Stuffed Olive in the Historic Court District at 6 p.m.
• Carson Parker / Marisa Cravero Duo at Louie's Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
• Brian Herrin on the patio at Gilroy's in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Mule at Cumming Tap in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Taylor King – Acoustic at TalkShop Lounge in St. Charles at 6:30 p.m.
• Friko with youbet at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $18 adv./ $20 DoS (seating options)
• The DSM Big Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $28, $19, $17 at a table $15 bar seat
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Brian Congdon on the patio at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Dan Jones at Tiger Bowl in Madrid at 7 p.m.
• Electric Six at Lefty’s at 7:30 p.m.; $20/$25
• Triple J’s at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Barry Rutter at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Dang Felton at the Polk City Town Square Farmers’ Market in Polk City at 4:30 p.m.
• The Schmidt Brothers at Jasper Winery in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
• Tom Pevear at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• The Drama Kings at DSM BierGarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
• The Cardinal Sound at Music in The Junction at Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Ponchos Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Neva Alden at Merll’s Pub & Patio in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Surf Zombies at Newton/DSM East KOA Journey at 6 p.m.
• Brittany Sword at Board & Batten LLC in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Shannon Curtis - 80s kids with Bonne Finken at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $25 adv., $30 DoS (+ fees)
• Trumpeter Sean Kiefer & Co. at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.
• Open Jam with Groove Review at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• Live Music at In Confidence Speakeasy, Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Scott Eggleston at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Wiz Khalifa with Chevy Woods, Fedd the God, DJ Bonics at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $59.96
• Velvet Trio at HiFi Brew Lounge in West Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Kevin Best at Bix & Co. in West Des Moines at 8:30 p.m.
• Caster Volor with Screaming Vengeance, Scarlett Roxx at Lefty’s at 9 p.m. (Doors); $12 adv.
• Sierra Griggs at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, May 23, 2025

• Heath Alan on the porch at Middlebrook Agrihood in Cumming at 4:30 p.m.
• Dave Helmer Band / New Bodies / Triple Elvis at Lefty’s at 5 p.m. (Doors), $10
• Dan Medeiros 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.
• Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
• Pork Tornadoes at Principal Park at 6 p.m.; GA $15 + $2 fees
• Chip Albright at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• Lani at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
• The Juan & Only at El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Ryne Doughty at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• BitterSweet Nation at Smash Park in West Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.
• Final Mix Show Band at Wellman’s West in West Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.
• David Watson at B&B Theaters in Ankeny at 6:30 p.m.
• Mudbone - Acoustic at Talk Shop Lounge in St. Charles at 6:30 p.m.; $10
• Acoustic Rooster at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
• Napalm Death and Melvins with Hard-Ons (with Jerry A), Shane Embury’s Dark Sky Burial at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.
• For Once In My Life: A Night of Stevie, Luther, & More with Napoleon Douglas at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $59, $49, $42, $36 at a table, $25 bar seat
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Marisa Cravero Group at The Cave at 7 p.m.
• Jake & TK at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• Jared Benson at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Brian Congdon at Pally’s in Clive at 7 p.m.
• Allie Crummy at Firetrucker Brewery in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• JPEGMAFIA at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $39.86
• The Hors D’oeuvres at Annie’s Irish Pub at 8 p.m.
• Cover That at Down Under Bar & Grille at 8 p.m.
• Drive Thirty5 at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• DiZclaimer at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Decoy Trio at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Liv McNair at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 8 p.m.
• Lola Blu at Cabaret Sports Bar & Grill in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
• Brian Herrin at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
• Royce Johns Duo at The Port, Lake Panorama in Panora at 8 p.m.
• Dogtown Rhythm Band at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• After Hours with Carson Parker at Noce in Western Gateway at 9:30 p.m.
• Lyxe / Nathan Thiessen / Doc Bullfrog at Lefty’s at 10 p.m.; $10
• Stubble Trouble at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Saturday, May 24, 2025

• Tom Hofer, Piano Man Richard Spierenburg, Mr. Magic, Mia Prosperi, 4neys, Opus Taylor at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Historic Court District at 8 a.m.
• Jake Schrodt Duo at Annie’s Irish Pub at Noon Encore Legends at Westown Tap in West Des Moines at 2 p.m.
• G String Open Jam with your host Cowpunk at 1833 Saloon at 3 p.m.
• Saints & Sinners at Revelton Distilling in Osceola at 4 p.m.
• Micawber with Ill Omen/ Still Stayer/ Diezeleater/ Infernal Instinct/ Habeas Corpus at Lefty’s at 4:30 p.m.; $20
• Dustin Baird at 1908 Draught House in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Jake Schrodt at 1908 Draught House in Norwalk at 5 p.m.
• Patresa Hartman & Steph Graham at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
• Zachary Freedom at Winterset Cidery at 5 p.m.
• Craig Campbell with Jordan Beem, Brad Morgan at Principal Park at 6 p.m.; GA $15 + $2 fees
• Oceano with Escuela Grind, Filth, Backbiter, Drowning Life at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.; $33.15
• Davvn x Jack the Underdog at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $12 adv. / $15 Dos (+fees)
• The Nate Sparks Big Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $59, $46, $42, $36 at table, $25 bar seat
• Round A Bout at Eagle’s Club #109 at 7 p.m.
• Velvet Trio at Shirley’s Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Sean Sullivan on the patio at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• Joe Demerath at Ambro’s Roadhouse in De Soto at 7 p.m.
• Birdy Young / Hideaway Honey at Flat Tire Lounge in Madrid at 7 p.m.
• The Kenastons at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m. $11
• Tylor & The Train Robbers Full Band at TalkShop Lounge in St. Charles at 7:30 p.m.; $10
• Bad Decisions at Down Under Bar & Grille at 8 p.m.
• Sugar Valley at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Decoy at The Regal Beagle in West Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Open Swim at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• The Get Down at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Cover That at The Port, Lake Panorama in Panora at 8 p.m.
• Recoil at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 8:30 p.m.
• After Hours with Anthony Orji at Noce in Western Gateway at 9:30 p.m.
• Sierra Griggs at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Sunday, May 25, 2025

• Nate & Tony at Wellman’s West in West Des Moines at Noon Orphan Annie Trio at Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 2 p.m.
• Reload / Encore Legends at Celebration of Life for Terry Polk at Wicked Rabbit from 2 - 6 p.m.
• Dan Jones & Friends at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
• Central Iowa Blues Society Springfest at The Cellar Winery in Madrid
  • The Janeys at 2 p.m.
  • Kevin Burt & Friends at 4 p.m.
  • The Cold Stares at 6 p.m.
• Tony Bohnenkamp at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Brazilian jam session with “Choro Moingona” at The Cave at 3 p.m.
• G String Open Jam with your host Cowpunk at 1833 Saloon at 3 p.m.
• David Watson at The Port on Lake Panorama in Panora at 4 p.m.
• Corbett Reeves on the patio at Exile Brewing at 5 p.m.
• Steve Grismore / Rod Leaverton Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• Sentimental Swing at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13
• Amelia White with Carter Sampson at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $20
• The Unlikely Candidates with slo/tide, Kickstart the Sun at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $25 +fees DoS (seating options)
• Young Widows / Kowloon Walled City / Fotocrime at Lefty’s at 7 p.m.; $20/$25 DoS

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.