Live Music This Week in DSM: May 6 – 11, 2025

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes The Band Spam, Good Company, Chip Albright, Abbie Sawyer, Greta Akers & Stella Webster and The People's Band 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 6, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Jerry Beauchamp Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
• B. John Burns' "Seis De Mayo" Dinner Hour Livestream at 5 p.m.
• Escape From the Zoo / The Moray / Hans Gruber and the Die Hards / Americature / Motel Pheromones at Lefty's at 5:30 p.m.; $20 adv., $25 DoS
• The Band Spam at Sugar Shack Diner in Altoona at 5:30 p.m.
• Stu Ryan O'Brien at Magee's Irish Pub & Eatery in Ankeny at 6 p.m.
• Eem Triplin with 75 Tutes, DC The Don at Wooly's in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $25
• Basement Phi9losophers Society at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

• Stephen Stanley with Jake & Shelby / Cross Contamination at Lefty’s at 7 p.m.; $25 adv.
• Randy Burk at Stuffed Olive at the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.
• Scott Davis & John Mattingly Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
• Damon Dotson on the patio at Gilroy’s in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Good Company at Ducktail Lounge in Clive at 6 p.m.
• Velvet Trio at Bike Night at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 6 p.m.
• Tony Bohnenkamp at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Robbie Michael on the patio at Talk Shop Lounge in St. Charles at 6 p.m.
• Tenth Avenue North with Natalie Layne at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $29.50
• Heartland Swing with The DSM Big Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $30, $22, $19, at a table $16 bar seat
• Brother Trucker at First Weds at Maggie’s Rumble Room at 7 p.m.
• Blues Bureau at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Youth Jazz Orchestra Spring Concert at Temple Theater in Western Gateway at 7:30 p.m.
• Jason Kincel at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Birdchild at Jasper Winery at 6 p.m.
• Luke Fox at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• Gimikk at Music in The Junction in 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.
• Tank Anthony at Merll’s Pub in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Taylor King at Board & Batten LLC in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Saxophonisy Dave Bohl at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.
• Open Jam with Groove Review at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at TrailSide Tap in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Pop Evil with Devour the Day, Oni at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.; $27.50
• The Bishops / Uncollectables / Lamp / Old Dogs at Lefty’s at 7:30 p.m.; $10
• Jordan Beem at Pelican Post in West Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.
• Live Music at In Confidence Speakeasy at Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Scott Eggleston at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Chip Albright at HiFi Brew Lounge in West Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Brian Congdon at Bix & Co. in West Des Moines at 8:30 p.m.
• Triple J’s at Yacht Club at 9 p.m.
• Luke Thomas at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, May 9, 2025

• Friday Work Release Party with Bob Pace and The Dangerous Band at Greenwood Lounge at 5 p.m.
• Robbie Huffaker at Bevy's Tavern in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
• Dhejemke at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• High Bidders 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.
• Silversonic at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Josh Sinclair at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Jason Walsmith at Firepit Friday at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 6 p.m.
• Fancy Pants at Pal Joey’s at 6:30 p.m.
• Royce Johns Duo at Smash Park in West Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.
• Emma Storm at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona at 6:30 p.m.
• Erek Wright at B&B Theaters in Ankeny at 6:30 p.m.
• Abbie Sawyer at Made in the Midwest at Temple Theater in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $20 – risers
• Joyann Parker: The Music of Patsy Cline at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $42, $36 at table, $25 bar seat
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Zachary Harper (Delta blues inspired) at The Cave at 7 p.m.
• Brittany Sword at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• Claudia Coltrain at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Neil Anders at Firetrucker Brewery in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Canaan James at Reclaimed Rails in Bondurant at 7 p.m.
• Rock a La Carte Queen Tribute at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.; $15
• Jackie Venson at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $18 adv., $22 DoS (+ fees, seating add-on options)
• Night Like This at Down Under Bar & Grille at 8 p.m.
• Monkeyfour at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Dirty Champagne at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• The Fell Right Band at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Jason Kincel at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 8 p.m.
• Joe Inman at Sister’s Place in Carlisle at 8 p.m.
• Jordan Beem Duo at Cabaret Sports Bar & Grill in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
• Jake Kloefkorn at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
• Heir of Sorrow with Dire Wake / Calous / Agony of Defeat at Lefty’s at 9 p.m.; $10
• Not Sisters at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• Tim Zach at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Jake McVey at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Saturday, May 10, 2025

• Brittany Sword Duo at Annie’s Irish Pub at Noon
• Will Barnett at Reclaimed Rails in Bondurant at 12:30 p.m.
• Neva Alden at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 1 p.m.
• G String Open Jam with your host Cowpunk at 1833 Saloon at 3 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Revelton Distilling in Osceola at 4 p.m.
• CHAOS & CARNAGE 2025 with Dying Fetus / Cradle of Filth at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 4:30 p.m.; $45
• J’Main at Plain Talk Books & Coffee at 5 p.m.
• Brian Herrin at 1908 Draught House in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Igor and Fletch Acoustic Duo at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
• Royce Johns Duo at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 5 p.m.
• Jaden Decker at Talk Shop Lounge in St. Charles at 6 p.m.; $10
• Blame not the Bard at Captain Roy’s at 6:30 p.m.
• Phil Shipley at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
• The Joyann Parker Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $59, $49, $46, $42, $36 at table, $25 bar seat
• Randy’s Cheeseburger Picnic Tour at Lefty’s at 7 p.m.; $30 (VIP $110)
• BitterSweet at Elks Lodge 160 at 7 p.m.; $5
• Salt Creek at Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
• Improv ’n Hard Copies at Cheba Hut in Johnston at 7 p.m.
• Adam Kulmatycki at Shirley’s Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Dustin Farrow at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• RiviEras at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
• Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee at 7:30 p.m.; $64 to $128
• Squid with FearDorian at Wooly’s in Historic East Village at 8 p.m.; $22.50
• Greta Akers & Stella Webster at Juniper Moon at 8 p.m.
• Hold On at Down Under Bar & Grille at 8 p.m.
• SPAM at Doug’s Pub & Grub in Urbandale at 8 p.m.
• Sons of Gladys Kravitz at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Jesse & the Medicine Men at Flat Tire Lounge in Madrid at 8 p.m.
• Jeff Banks Band at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• Knuckle at Yacht Club at 9 p.m.
• Standing Hampton at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Joe Inman & Jordan Beem at Hawk Heaven Tavern in Altoona at 9 p.m.
• The Infamous Fuzzy Goldwater Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Sunday, May 11, 2025

• Bob Pace Band at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 2 p.m.
• Dave Watson at Flat Tire Lounge in Madrid at 2 p.m.
• Danny Grause at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Get Off My Lawn - Free Mother’s Day Matinee at xBk Live at 3 p.m.
• G String Open Jam with your host Cowpunk at 1833 Saloon at 3 p.m.
• The People’s Band at Wellman’s West in West Des Moines at 4 p.m.
• Taylor King on the patio at Exile Brewing at 5 p.m.
• (no music) at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• Stardusters at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13
• Chandler / Lex Bratcher / Billy Marchiafava with Tuffluck Kid and DJ Ryan - Dessy X, Benny The Jet, Sightlives, Mid City KId at Lefty’s at 5:30 p.m.; $15 adv., $22 DoS
• Kurt Allan Band at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $20

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.