Live Music This Week in DSM: Sept. 16 – 21, 2025

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes Lene Lovich with Pink Flag, Drew Fry, Molly Nova & The Hawks, Early James, Igor & Fletch and Deja Blue Band. 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, Sept. 16, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Craig Swalwell Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
• Scott Eggleston at Adel Farmers’ Market in Adel at 4:30 p.m.
• B. John Burns' September Dinner Hour Livestream at 5 p.m.
• Vintage Cafe at Latin King at 5:30 p.m.
• The Band Spam at Cruise In Car Shows at Sugar Shack Diner in Altoona at 5:30 p.m.
• Uncle Lucius with Ryan Culwell at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $27.49
• Dehd withStarcharm at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $31 + fees DoS (seating options)
• Lene Lovich with Pink Flag at Lefty’s at 7 p.m.; $32.50 adv.
• Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7 p.m.
• Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats with Hannah Cohen at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $25.46 and up

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

• John Burns at Waukee Farmers’ Market at the Historic Triangle in Waukee at 4 p.m.
• Andrew Hoyt at Either/Or at 6 p.m.
• Jordan Messerole at Stuffed Olive in Historic Court District at 6 p.m.
• Orji / Kean / Gedler Trio on the patio at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
• Chris Powell on the patio at Gilroy’s Kitchen in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Velvet Trio on the patio at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Fenders Brewing – Pocket Park in Polk City at 6 p.m.
• Abby Jeanne and the Shadowband at Lefty’s at 6:30 p.m.; $12 adv./ $15 DOS
• Josh Sinclair at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 7 p.m.
• The Back Alley with 28 Days Later at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $20 + fees DoS (seating options)
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Triple J’s at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Drew Fry at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Dang Felton at Polk City Town Square Farmers’ Market in Polk City at 4:30 p.m.
• Josh Sinclair at Cheba Hut in Johnston at 5 p.m.
• Cody Jinks at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.; $38 up to $127
• Kris Karr on the patio at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• Molly Nova & The Hawks at Music in The Junction in Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Jessie & The Medicine Men at Poncho’s Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Jordan Messerole at Board & Batten LLC in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Early James at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $24.39
• 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.
• Live Music at In Confidence Speakeasy at the Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• The Soul Searchers at HiFi Brew Lounge in West Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Scott Kirkhart at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 19, 2025

• Oktoberfest at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area – Day 1
  • Festival Brass at 3 p.m.
  • New Jolly German Band at 4:30 p.m.
  • Guilty Pleasures at 7 p.m.
• Josh Hoyer at Middlebrook Agrihood in Cumming at 4:30 p.m.
• Stone Peace at Klokkenspel Plaza in Pella at 4:30 p.m. (bring chairs)
• Friday Work Release Party with Bob Pace and the Dangerous Band at Greenwood Lounge at 5 p.m.
• Jake Beaty at Bevy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Luke Farland at Caffrey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
• Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
• Beaverdale Fall Festival – Day 1
  • Trio Aceto at 6 p.m. at Main Stage
  • Bad Friends at 7 p.m. at Goodson’s
  • Sons of Gladys Kravitz at 7 p.m. at Christopher’s
  • RetroSpect at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity
  • The Sheet at 9 p.m. at Main Stage
• Apathy Syndrome & Hemlock with Through The Darkness, Callus, The Curse Of Hail at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.; $21.29
• The Other Brothers at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
• Velvet Trio on the patio at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• The Juan & Only at El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Abigail Phelps at Firetrucker Brewing in Ankeny at 6 p.m.
• Plastic Apartment at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Tom Pevear at Firepit Fridays at the Cellar Winery in Madrid at 6 p.m.
• Steve Grismore at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
• Gina Gedler Sings Bette Midler with Her Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $59, $49, $46, $42, $36 at table, $25 bar seat
• Vision Video / Panic Priest / Treasvre at Lefty’s at 7 p.m.; $25
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Brittany Sword at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• Michael Moncada at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Heath Alan at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 7 p.m.
• Josh Sinclair at Uptown Garage Brewing in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Robbie Michael at 36th ST Tavern in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Hold On at 1850 Homestead in Cambridge at 7 p.m.; $10
• Jessie & The Medicine Men at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $11
• Jason Aldean with Nate Smith, Raelynn, Dee Jay Silver at Casey’s Center at 7:30 p.m.; $61 and up
• Evander Ellsbury at xBk Annex at 8 p.m.
• Randy Burk & The Prisoners at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Royce Johns Duo at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 8 p.m.
• Drew Fry at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
• Midnight Radio at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8:30 p.m.
• Rattlebox at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8:30 p.m.
• Gina Gedler Sings Bette Midler with Her Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 9 p.m.; $59, $49, $46, $42, $36 at table, $25 bar seat
• Dan Jones & Friends at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• MFKS at Locals Bar & Stage at 9 p.m.
• After Hours with Max Wellman at Noce in Western Gateway at 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025

• Sam Pattison, Mia Prosperi, Heartland Swing at Downtown Farmers’ Market in Historic Court District at 7 a.m.
• Slater Station Music Festival – Outdoor Stage
  • Grant Weldon at 11 a.m.
  • Rural Route at Noon
  • Erek Wright at 1:30 p.m.
  • Royce Johns at 3 p.m.
  • Dave Watson at 4 p.m.
  • Luke Farland at 5 p.m.
  • Drew Fry at 6 p.m.
  • Jordan beem & Johnny G at 7 p.m.
  • The Kraft Brothers at 9 p.m.
• Oktoberfest at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area – Day 2
  • Betruckin Messing at 11:30 a.m.
  • Polka Police at 1 p.m.
  • Stuart Walker at 3 p.m.
  • Schnitzel Brothers at 4:30 p.m.
  • The Other Brothers at 7 p.m.
• Jenny Kohls Band at Handlebar in Dallas Center at Noon; $5 free-will donation (food trucks)
• Beaverdale Fall Festival – Day 2
  • Robert Yeltman at 12:30 p.m. at Grounds for Celebration
  • Luke Farland at 2 p.m. at Main Stage
  • Gemma Brice at 3:30 p.m. at Grounds for Celebration
  • School of Rock at 4:15 p.m. at Main Stage
  • Ducharme-Jones at 6 p.m. at Main Stage
  • Chris Falcon & the Spacetime Continuum at 7 p.m. at Goodson’s
  • Stark Raving Madge at 7 p.m. at Christopher’s
  • Vinyl Five at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity
  • Sharane Calister & The Feel Right at 9 p.m. at Main Stage
• Igor & Fletch at Tipsy Crow Tavern at 1 p.m.
• Matthew Garcia at Firetrucker Brewing in Ankeny at 1 p.m.
• Oktoberfest at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant
  • Malek’s Fishermen Band at 2 p.m.
  • Luke Fox at 7 p.m.
• Silver & Spice at Revelton Distilling in Osceola at 4 p.m.
• Sara Routh at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
• Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones at Cellar Winery in Madrid at 5 p.m. (bring chairs)
• Electro-Beast at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
• Fred Gazzo Quintet at Anna Dolce Ristorante in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Tophouse with the Ruen Brothers at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $33.15
• Coyote at Croatian-Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
• The Hors D’oeuvres at Shirley’s Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Brian Herrin at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona at 7 p.m.
• Lucky Jax at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
• Dirk Von Stein at Whistling Donkey Sports Bar & Grill in Woodward at 7 p.m.
• Hailey Whitters with Hogslop String Band, Liv McNair at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $28.52
• Ray Scott at Talk Shop Lounge in St. Charles at 7:30 p.m.; $10
• La Leyenda: A Tribute To Selena at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $20 + fees DoS (seating options)
• Aaron Winters and Rob Short at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Igor & Fletch at Down Under Bar & Grill in Clive at 8 p.m.
• The People’s Band at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• The Weasels at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 8:30 p.m.
• Sister Sara at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Suede at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025

• Oktoberfest at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area – Day 3
  • Animato Bandd at 11:30 a.m.
  • Gladys Lite at 1 p.m.
  • Metro Brass at 4:30 p.m.
  • Bad Friends at 7 p.m.
• Booneville Music Festival – United Methodist Church Grounds at 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. (bring chairs)
  • Bob Pace & The Power, Dave & Anne Ducharme-Jones, Corey Jamison Bare Bones, Exit 114 (with Brandan), Liv McNair, Jennie Hargrove & the Refrow Pickers, Waxiez Dargle
• Get Off My Lawn at Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 2 p.m.
• Randy Burk & The Prisoners at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
• Deja Blue Band at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 2 p.m.
• Paul Little at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Stringfield Band at Wilson’s Orchard & Farm in Cumming at 3 p.m.
• Ryne Doughty at Paint Madison County Reception at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 4 p.m. (bring lawn chairs)
• Rural Route on the patio at Exile Brewing at 5 p.m.
• Steve Grismore / Tanner Taylor Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• Sentimental Swing at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $14
• Drew Peterson at Byron’s, Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $20
• Iris And the Shade at Lefty’s at 6:30 p.m.; $15
• Poppy with MSPAINT at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $49.65
• 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.