Live Music This Week in DSM: Sept. 2 – 7, 2025

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes Stu Ryan O'Brien, Barry Rutter, Grain Powered Duo, live musical acts from the Getting Down On The Farm Music Festival in Pella and Porchfest DSM in Des Moines. 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. 2, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Clarksville Station Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
• Vintage Cafe at Beaverdale Farmers’ Market at 4 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Adel Farmers' Market at 4 p.m.
• John Krantz/Randy Ward Duo at Latin King at 5:30 p.m.
• 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.
• Greg Koch with the Koch Marshall Trio at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $25 +fees DoS (seating options
• Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7 p.m.
• Basement Philosophers at Greenwood Lounge at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025

• Dan Medeiros at Biergarten in Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
• Brian Herrin at Either/Or at 6 p.m.
• NOLA Jazz Duo on the patio at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
• Day on the patio at Gilroy’s Kitchen in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• BRNT at Bike Night at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 6 p.m.
• Velvet Trio on the patio at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Plastic Apartment at Cumming Tap in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Brother Trucker at Maggie’s Rumble Room at 7 p.m.
• Blues Bereau Duo at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Barry Rutter at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Brittany Sword at Polk City Town Square Farmers’ Market at 4:30 p.m. Juan & Only at Biergarten in Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
• Meadowbrook Circle on that patio at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• Dirty Champagne 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.
• Grain Powered Duo at Distination Grille in Grimes at 6 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair on the patio at Trailside Tap in Ankeny at 6 p.m.
• Greg Artz at Ames Elk Club at 6 p.m.
• DSM Irish Session at Murph & Mary’s Pub in Newton at 6 p.m.
• at Board & Batten LLC in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Carrellee / Contakta at The Lift at 7 p.m.
• Open Jam with house band at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• Chase Rice withHannah McFarland at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $45.01
• 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.
• Andrew Ryan at HiFi Brew Lounge in West Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Jordan Beem Duo at Slater Station in Slater at 8 p.m.
• Jake Schrodt at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 5, 2025

• Getting Down on the Farm Music Festival – Day 1 at 366 240th Place in Pella; $Presale $35, Sat. $55, Two-Day $80
  • Keith Davis at 3 p.m.
  • Lucas Beebe at 5 p.m.
  • Blaire Elbert and The Boys at 7 p.m.
  • Standing Hampton at 10 p.m.
• The Matt Terronez Band 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. (bring chairs)
• Gurnfest 9: Day 1 - Such Creatures Exist, Dreamthief, Nyhilist, Iced Wrist, Auraborn, Happy Thoughts at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.; $15 (food truck)
• Sierra Griggs Trio 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.
• Joe Demerath at Bevy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Johnny Laws, Vince Cline with guest Tim Cooper at G Mig’s in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Mike Tiedeman at Caffrey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
• Not Quite Brothers at Harvest Market in Marshalltown at 5 p.m.
• Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
• Rural Route at DSM Biergarten, Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
• Malcolm Wells & The Two Timers at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
• The Drama Kings 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.
• Dan Trilk at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Jason Walsmith Storyteller at Firepit Fridays at the Cellar Winery in Madrid at 6 p.m.
• Gimikk at Smash Park in West Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.
• Joshua Hedley & Unforgiven Band at Talk Shop Lounge in St. Charles at 6:30 p.m. $10
• The Power Of Love at Temple Theater in Western Gateway at 7p.m.; $37.50 - risers, $47.50 at a table
• TFBUNDY / Clip Clop / De Vant at Locals Bar & Stage at 7 p.m.
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Jake & TK at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Zachary Freedom at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 7 p.m.
• The Sinclairs at Who’s On 1st in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Bonne Finken + The Collective // Eras-Style Concert at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $20 + fees Day of Show (seating options)
• DiZclaimer at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Project TDS at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Shock Collar at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Trevor Rau at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
• Blues Bureau at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• Hideaway Honey at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025

• Mia Prosperi, Sarah Ennis, Robert Yeltman, Sharane Calister at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Historic Court District at 7 a.m.
• Getting Down on the Farm Music Festival – Day 2 at 366 240th Place in Pella; $Fri. presale $35, Sat. $55, Two-Day $80
  • Lucas Beebe at Noon
  • Keith Davis featuring Chris DeJade at 1:45 p.m.
  • Sierra Griggs at 3:15 p.m.
  • Blaire Elbert and The Boys at 4:45 p.m.
  • XOLEX at 7 p.m.
  • Colt Ford at 9:30 p.m.
• Funkman Memorial Jam Session honoring Harlan Thomas featuring The Backstage Boogie Band at Confluence Brewing from 2-4 p.m.
• Rob Lumbard on the patio at BBQ, Blues, and Brews at Firetrucker Brewing in Ankeny at 4 p.m.
• Gurnfest 9: Day 2 – Skinned Alive, See No Evil, Eyesofsorrow, Tearaway, Swingxyouth, Hardship at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.; $15 (food truck)
• Fred Kelly at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
• Willie Mac & the Lost Cousins at Big Rack Brew Haus in Winterset at 5 p.m.
• Fred Gazzo Quintet at Anna Dolce Ristorante in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Derrick Davis on the patio at Fenders Brewing in Polk City at 6 p.m.
• R.E.Z. at Mom’s Bike Night in Maxwell at 6 p.m.
• Kinda Petty Band at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
• The Road Scholars Spyro Gyra Tribute Band, Featuring Dan Moore & Damani Phillips at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m. $59, $46, $42, $36 at table, $25 bar seat
• Rick Burke at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• Country River Band at Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members $7 Nonmembers
• Dustin Farrow on the patio at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• Liv McNair at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona at 7 p.m.
• Jeff Brandt & Galaxy at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
• Colleen Raye – The Music of Adele at Warren County Cultural Center in Greenfield at 7 p.m.; $25
• Mr. Softheart with Anthony Worden & The Illiterati / The Halloween Episode at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $15 + fees DoS (seating options)
• Sundogs at Midnight / Mazu / Hambone & The Maple Babies at Locals Bar & Stage at 8 p.m.
• Sons of Gladys Kravitz at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Dick Danger Band at Good Times in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
• Cover That at Down Under Bar & Grill in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Andrew Hoyt at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025

• Porchfest DSM – 20 bands in Union Park Area from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (see the map)
• The High Bidders at Biergarten in Water Works Park at Noon
• Decoy Trio at Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 2 p.m.
• Weary Ramblers at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
• Burnin’ Sensations at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 2 p.m.
• Dave Watson at Whistling Donkey Sports Bar & Grill in Woodward at 2 p.m.
• Matt Woods Band at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Stringfield at Wilson’s Orchard & Farm in Cumming at 3 p.m.
• Joe Demerath on the patio at Exile Brewing at 5 p.m.
• Douglas Pierce / Nate Sparks Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• Al Welsh at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13
• Louis DeLuca at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $20
• The Get Down at Jamie Hurd Amphitheater in West Des Moines at 6 p.m. (food trucks)
• The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis with Yr Knives at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $25 DoS + fees
• Ani DeFranco withHurray for the Riff Raff at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $71.30 to $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.