Live Music This Week in DSM: Oct. 14 – 19, 2025

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes Cage The Elephant, Will Barnett, Bradford Johnson, Silversonic, Rural Route and Betsy Hickok. 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.

Starting this week, KFMG, 98.9 FM, will be conducting their annual Fall Fun(d) Drive. KFMG is Des Moines’ “Community Voice”, a listener-supported service of the Des Moines Community Radio Foundation. KFMG continues to need the support of the musical community to enable it to remain Des Moines’ “Community Voice.” The musical part of KFMG is melodic, adult, rock and roll, with significant “flavoring” from blues, jazz, acoustic, local and world music. KFMG tries to play at least one Iowa artist every hour, and has four hours weekly dedicated exclusively to Iowa artists. They are also extremely supportive of live music, both local and national and have been supporters of The List for years. A significant aspect of KFMG‘s mission is also to support and promote non-musical Iowa artists and other cultural activities. Please listen and contribute what you can to help keep this unique musical and cultural asset on the air in Des Moines. You can donate by sending a check to:

KFMG
PO Box 41143
Des Moines, IA 50311

Or, go to the station’s website, kfmg.org, and making an online donation via the link on the website to the revived GoFundMe listing for the radio station, or via the link to KFMG’s local credit card processor, Vizypay.

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Clarksville Station at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
• NOLA Jazz Trio at Latin King at 5:30 p.m.
• Cage The Elephant with hey, Nothing, Vlad Holiday at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee at 6:50 p.m.; $53 to $122
• The Counselors of Evil: Something Scary at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $15 DOS + Fees (optional seating)
• Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7 p.m.
• DSM Irish Sessions at Magee’s Irish Pub & Eatery in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Mania: The Abba Tribute at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 7:30 p.m.; $24 to $88
• Paul McCartney at Casey’s Center at 8 p.m.; $93 to $349
• Mike Aceto at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

• Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers with Mia Proseri and Glass Knuckles at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.; $15/$20
• Heath Alan at Joseph LeValley’s New Book (Murder Suspended Launch at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
• Two Guys Named Dave + Steve O’Brien at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
• Bruce Katz Band with Jame Biehn at xBk Live at 7:30 p.m.; $25 DOS + Fees (optional seating)
• The DSM Big Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $30, $28, $19, $17 at a table, $15 bar seat
• Triple J’s at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Will Barnett at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Jonas Magram at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m. (food truck)
• Jessie & The Medicine Men at Poncho’s Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• In This Moment with Dayseeker, The Funeral Portrait Tickets, Ded at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee at 6:30 p.m.; $59 to $100
• Severio Mancieri at Board & Batten LLC in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.FO. with James Biehn at xBk LIve at 7 p.m.; $25 DOS + Fees (optional seating)
• Guitarist Jack Curtis & Co. at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.
• Bradford Johnson at HiFi Brew Lounge in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Open Jam with house band at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• DSM Irish Session at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona at 7 p.m.
• Scott Eggleston at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Live Music at In Confidence Speakeasy at Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at Bevy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Tanner Sovereign at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 17, 2025

• Silversonic at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 5 p.m.
• Friday Work Release Party with Bob Pace And The Dangerous Band at Greenwood Lounge at 5 p.m.
• Chris Evers at Caffrey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
• Brother Trucker at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
• Jasper Tide with Mad Delirious, Like Knives at Lefty’s at 6 p.m.; $10
• The Juan & Only at El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Mancat Three at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Josh Sinclair at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Dan Medeiros at B&B Theaters in Ankeny at 6:30 p.m.
• Austin Chadderdon at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
• Jaden Decker at Talk Shop Lounge in Saint Charles at 6:45 p.m.; $10
• Saxsquatch with DJ Nick Nystrom at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $27.49
• MN Jazz Vocalist Leslie Vincent at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $59, $49, $46, $42, $36 at table, $25 bar seat
• JB Williams at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• John Krantz Trio at The Cave at 7 p.m.
• Drew Peer at The Ducktail Lounge in Clive at 7 p.m.
• Sierra Griggs at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• The Schmids at Firetrucker Brewing in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Corey Jamison at 36th St. Tavern in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Neil Hewitt at 1850 Homestead in Cambridge at 7 p.m.
• The Spooklights with Secret Formula at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $18 + fees DoS (seating options)
• DiZclaimer at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Grind at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Lola Blue at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
• David Simmons Band FT. Greg & Jake Merritt at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 8 p.m.
• David Watson at Cabaret Sports Bar & Grill in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
• Kara Christensen at Flat Tire Lounge in Madrid at 8 p.m.
• Brittany Sword at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
• Casey Peasley at Fore Seasons in Newton at 8 p.m.
• Midnight Radio at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8:30 p.m.
• Greg Gets Greyer with Resurrection Mary, Hollow Tree / Solburn at Lefty’s at 9 p.m. (doors); $5
• High Bidders at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025

• The Wish Machine, Gemma Brice, 4neys, Opus Taylor at Downtown Farmers’ Market in Historic Court District at 7 a.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Revelton Distilling in Osceola at 4 p.m.
• Jenny Kohls Band at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
• Brick’n Bob at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 5 p.m.; $5/car
• Ducharme-Jones Band at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
• Fred Gazzo Quintet at Anna Dolce Ristorante in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• The Juan & Only at Wolfe Ranch in Marshalltown at 6 p.m.; $15 advance donation, $20 at gate (food trucks, BYOB, bring chairs)
• Madison County Line at Big Rack Brew Haus in Winterset at 6 p.m.
• Dirty Blonde with Exit 141 at Lefty’s at 6:30 p.m.; $10
• Willie Mac & The Lost Cousins at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 6:30 p.m.; $5 Anthony Orji Trio at The Cave at 7 p.m.
• Coyote at Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
• Adam Kulmatycki Duo at Shirley’s Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Rural Route at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant at 7 p.m.
• Des Moines Symphony: Wisdom – Dvorak 6 & Chopin at Des Moines Civic Center at 7:30 p.m.; $20 to $80
• Girl Named Tom at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 7:30 p.m.; $30 to $53.50
• David Crabbs at Speed Lyceum Theater at Grand View University at 7:30 p.m.; $25 Jess Klein at Progressive Voices at 1st Unitarian Church at 7:30 p.m.; $24/$29
• Social Cinema and Sega with Sarah Tonin at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $ 20+ fees DoS
• After Shock at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Cover That at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Adam Whitehead at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
• David Watson at Ambro’s Roadhouse in De Soto at 8 p.m.
• Casey Peasley at Lakeside Casino in Osceola at 8 p.m.
• Recoil at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 8:30 p.m.
• Toast3r at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8:30 p.m.
• Mary Runyon Band at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 8:30 p.m.
• Lee Klett at Sister’s Place in Carlisle at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025

• Ben Schrag, Christine Her, El’noel, Jen McClung, Jeremy Brock, Lani at #YesKindness House Party – ArtForce Iowa at Mainframe Studios at 1 p.m.; $20 suggested donation, food, BYOB
• The Soul Searchers at Local Bands, Brews and Bikes at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 1 p.m.
• Jake Schrodt at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Des Moines Symphony: Wisdom – Dvorak 6 & Chopin at Des Moines Civic Center at 2:30 p.m.; $20 to $80
• Stringfield Band at Wilson’s Orchard & Farm in Cumming at 3 p.m.
• Chad Stutzman at Talk Shop Lounge in Saint Charles at 4 p.m.
• Betsy Hickok / Ron Roberts Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• “The Babel Kind” Live Soundtrack Concert Recording featuring Brandon Findlay, Tina Haase Findlay, David Zollo, Damani Phillips, Donald Salting, Jeffrey Stevens at Tallgrass Theatre Company in West Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.; $45 Riser Seating, $55 Cabaret (table seating)
• Sons of the East with Kim Churchill at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m. $38.83
• DOOM GONG with Evander Ellsbury at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $ 15+ fees DoS (seating options)
• Open Jam/Mic at Locals Bar & Stage at 8 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.