Live Music This Week in DSM: Sept. 30 – Oct. 5, 2025

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes Dan Jones & Friends, The Blues Bureau, Al Welsh, Tim Zach, Annalyn Vida and Iowa Blues Challenge acts. 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. 30, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Tommy Browder & The Country River Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
• B. John Burns' "When Dylan Plays A Free Show" Dinner Hour Livestream at 5 p.m.
• Steve Grismore / Randy Ward Duo 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.
• Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7 p.m.
• That Mexican OT at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $47.59
• Dan Jones & Friends at Greenwood Lounge at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025

• Suede at the 15th Annual Healthiest State Walk Celebration at Water Works Park in the Gray's Lake Area at 5 p.m. (free food)
• NOLA Jazz Duo on the patio at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
• Jake Schrodt on the patio at Gilroy’s Kitchen in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Willis with Almost A.M. at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $33.15
• The Band Feel with Emily How at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $20 + fees DoS (seating options)
• The DSM Big Band Plays Strayhorn & Ellington at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $36, $28, $22 at a table, $17
• The Blues Bureau at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Leonid & Friends at Hoyt Sherman Place at 7:30 p.m.; $47,50, $57.50, $75
• Father John Misty with Cut Worms at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $55.32
• Lee Klett at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate at 11 a.m.
• Al Welsh at Afternoon Dance at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 2 p.m.; $13
• David Watson at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 5:30 p.m.
• Brian Herrin on the patio at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• Jessie & The Medicine Men at Poncho’s Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Board & Batten LLC in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Nicotine Dolls with Wic Whitney at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $33.15
• Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol with Pink Fuzz at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $20 + fees DoS (seating options)
• Sqwerv with Dirty Blonde at Lefty’s at 7 p.m. (doors); $10/$15
• Pianist Nick Leo & Co. at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.
• Meadowbrook Circle at HiFi Brew Lounge in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Open Jam with house band with guest host Dewey Cantrell at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• Kansas City, Here We Come at Turner Center for Jazz / Orchestra at 7:30 p.m.; $32
• A.J. Croce Plays Croce at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 8 p.m.; $60.05 to $92.20
• The Soul Searchers at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Live Music at In Confidence Speakeasy at Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Robbie Michael at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

• Jonas Magram at Klokkenspel Plaza in Pella at 4:30 p.m. (bring chairs)
• Fivefold with Hang Your Hate, Kensett at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.; $10
• Friday Work Release Party with Bob Pace and the Dangerous Band at Greenwood Lounge at 5 p.m.
• Barry Rutter at Bevy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• David Watson at Caffrey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
• The Soul Searchers at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 5:30 p.m.
• Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
• Malcolm Wells & The Two Timers 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.
• Abimato Bandd at Firetrucker Brewing in Ankeny at 6 p.m.
• Chad Elliott at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Iowa Distilling Co in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Tom Box at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
• American Aquarium with Collin Nash at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $25 + fees DoS (seating options)
• The Max Wellman Big Band Plays Sinatra & More at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $65, $49, $36 at table, $28 bar seat
• Willie Shay at Simon’s at 7 p.m.
• Neva Alden at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• Rural Route at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Drew Fry at 36th St. Tavern in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Not Petty at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona at 7 p.m.
• Chrome Horse: The Bob Dylan Tribute at Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield at 7 p.m.; $25
• Hot Kunch / Hello Fellow Humans / Mango Soul at Locals Bar & Stage at 7:30 p.m.
• The Sons and Sara at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Suede at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Decoy Trio at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Cam Cummings Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
• Yubu at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
• Craig Swalwell Band at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 8 p.m.; $20
• Heath Alan at Greenwood Lounge at 8:30 p.m.
• Tim Zach at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Jason Kincel Band at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 9 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at Sister’s Place in Carlisle at 9 p.m.
• After Hours with Carson Parker at Noce in Western Gateway at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

• Sarah Ennis, Zachary Freedom, L & N Music, Lani at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Historic Court District at 7 a.m.
• B. John Burns at Carlisle Farmers’ Market in Carlisle at 8:30 a.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Middlebrook Agrihood’s Fall Fest in Cumming at 10 a.m. with food trucks, activities
• Confluence Brewery’s Oktoberfest ($25 ticket for commemorative mug (filled) + $2 off refills)
  • Betrunken Messing at Noon
  • Trio Aceto at 2:30 p.m.
• Annalyn Vida at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 1 p.m.
• Rural Route at Deal’s Orchard in Jefferson at 1 p.m.
• Rob Lumbard's Blues With a Healing with VA Central Iowa Health Care System Livestream at 2 p.m.
• Kenni Falls at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 3 p.m.
• Tim Mitchum and The Part Time Pirates at Honky Tonk Happy Hour at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 3 p.m.; $5
• Sumpin Doo at Hawkeye Elks Lodge 160 at 4 p.m.; $5
• Robert Deitch at Revelton Distilling in Osceola at 4 p.m.
• Jana West & RetroSpect at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 5 p.m.
• Dogtown Rhythm Band at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
• Casey Peasley at Wintersef Cidery in Winterset at 5 p.m.
• Fred Gazzo Quintet at Anna Dolce Ristorante in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Brian Herrin at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
• Trey Lewis at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $27.49
• Tough Ghost / Bellyard / Chris Falcon at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $18 + fees DoS (seating options)
• Hannah Marks, Michael Malis, Jonathon Taylor - National Act at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $59, $49, $42, $36 at table, $25 bar seat
• Tommy Browder & Country River at Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
• Yubu Band at Shirley’s Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Cody Ikerd and the Sidewinders at Talk Shop Lounge in Saint Charles at 7 p.m.; $15
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
• David Lee and Anthony Smith at Nashville North at Pella Opera House in Pella at 7 p.m.; $35-$50
• Driving Blind at Mom’s Maxwell in Maxwell at 7 p.m.
• Hudson Road at The Cork in Johnston at 7:30 p.m.
• Not Sisters at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Project TDS at Down Under at 8 p.m.
• Roseland with Dirty Champagne at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 8 p.m.
• MonkeyFour at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Dick Danger Band at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Chuck Briseno Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
• Rural Route at Just One More in Jamaica at 8 p.m.
• Night Like This at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 8:30 p.m.
• Tank Anthony at Hawk Heaven Tavern in Altoona at 9 p.m.
• Aeon Grey / Blist Her / Clarisse at ZZZ Records Anniversary Party at Lefty’s at 9:30 p.m.; $12.22 ADV/$15 at door

Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025

• Iowa Blues Challenge at Lefty’s from 1 – 6 p.m.
  • Solo/Duo
    • Berdo & Jones at 1 p.m.
    • Weary Ramblers at 2:10 p.m.
    • The Crawling Kingsnake at 3:45 p.m.
    • Vorvick & James at 4:55 p.m.
  • Band
    • The Chuggaluggers Band at 1:35 p.m.
    • The Other Brothers at 2:45 p.m.
    • Izzy Starchild and the Psychedelic Rose at 4:20 p.m.
    • HomeBrewed at 5:30 p.m.
• Heath Alan at Local Bands, Brews and Bikes at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 1 p.m.
• Bob Pace & The Power at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
• Devon Miller at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Marc Bailey at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Des Moines Symphony performs Tchaikovsky 5 at Des Moines Civic Center at 2:30 p.m.; $20 to $80
• IL DIVO at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 3 p.m.; $59 to $99
• Brazilian jam session with “Choro Moingona” at The Cave at 3 p.m.
• Dan & Quinn Trilk at Wilson’s Orchard & Farm in Cumming at 3 p.m.
• John Krantz Trio at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• Al Godfredsen at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13
• Thomas Jefferson Gardens in Jefferson Fundraiser; $10 suggested donation, online auction
  • Jeni Grouws at 5 p.m.
  • Weary Ramblers at 7 p.m.
• Touch of Grey at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $20
• DSM Vocal Arts Ensemble at Temple Theater in Western Gateway at 6:30 p.m.; $45 at table, $35 at riser
• The Jonas Brothers at Casey’s Center at 7:30 p.m.; $39.70 to $840.45
• SunSquabi with Erf at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.; $27.49
• 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.