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Live Music This Week in DSM: Aug. 29 – Sept. 3, 2023

Live Music in DSM

August 29, 2023

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes Raptor at Ankeny Bandshell in Ankeny on Wednesday, Aug. 30, Birdie Pie at Confluence Brewery Patio Fest on Friday, Sept. 1 and Norwalk Music Fest acts at City Park in Norwalk on Sunday, Sept. 3.

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, Aug. 29

  • “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Restaurant at 11 a.m.
  • Scott Stillwell at the Beaverdale Farmers’ Market at 4 p.m.
  • B. John Burns’ “Off to College” Dinner Hour Livestream at 5 p.m.
  • Young Talent Night hosted by Taylor King at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 5 p.m.
  • SPAM at the Cruise In Car Show at Sugar Shack Diner in Altoona at 5:30 p.m.
  • Sugar Valley at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
  • GWAR with Crobot, 200 Stab Wounds at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7:30 p.m.; $35
  • Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 30

  • Marilyn Jerome at the Waukee Farmers’ Market at the Historic Triangle in Waukee at 4 p.m.
  • Choro Moingona Brazilian Jam at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
  • Sara Routh at Stuffed Olive in Historic Court District at 6 p.m.
  • Patricia Holly/Jamie Poulsen Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
  • Joshua Sinclair at The Republic on Grand in the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.
  • Tyler Frazier at Gilroy’s in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Nick Sinclair at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 6 p.m.
  • Emmett Skelton Band on the patio at Claxons in Altoona at 6 p.m.
  • Jordan Beem at Rhythm & Brews at 30Hop in Ankeny at 6:30 p.m.
  • Damon Dotson at Firetrucker Brewery in Ankeny at 6 p.m.
  • The Blues Bureau at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
  • Open Jam with “Keys and the Band” at Ambro’s Roadhouse in De Soto at 7 p.m.
  • Raptor at Ankeny Bandshell in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
  • Lee Klett at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 31

  • “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Restaurant at 11 a.m.
  • Max Wellman with Calssen & Taylor on the patio at Latin King at 5:30 p.m.
  • Marc Bailey at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
  • Gimikk at Music in Valley Junction in Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Jesse & The Medicine Men at Big Al’s Bar-B-Q in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Ducharme- Jones at 515 Brewing in Clive at 6 p.m.
  • Robbie Huffaker at Fleetwood at Saylorville at 6 p.m.
  • Day’s Live Music at Nineteen14 Depot in Minburn at 6 p.m.
  • Cory Waller & The Wicked Things at Music in the Garden at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden in the Historic East Village at 6:30 p.m.; $12, seniors and active military, $11, children $9
  • USAF Raptors at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6:30 p.m.
  • The Weary Ramblers (Chad Elliott and Kathryn Severing Fox) at Board & Batten, LLC in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
  • Black Stone Cherry at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $25
  • Open Jam with the Groove Review at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
  • Joshua Sinclair on the patio at Trailside Tap in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
  • The Turtles, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues, The Classics IV, The4 Cowsills at the Happy Together Tour at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 7:30 p.m.; $50 to $95
  • The Counselors of Evil at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $10-15
  • Live Jazz Trio at In Confidence at Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
  • Scott Eggleston at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
  • Adam Bruce at Bix & Co. in West Des Moines at 8:30 p.m.
  • Jason Kincel at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 1

  • Bob Pace & The Dangerous Band at the Friday Work Release at xBk Live at 4:30 p.m.; $5
  • Robert Deitch at Middlebrook Agrihood Farm in Cumming at 4:30 p.m.
  • Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
  • Birdie Pie at Confluence Brewery Patio Fest at 6 p.m.
  • David Zollo & The Body Electric at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
  • Adema & Smile Empty Soul with Deep Within, Traverse The Abyss, Elision at Lefty’s at 6 p.m. (Doors); $20 adv.
  • Bruce Day at 300 Craft & Rooftop at 6 p.m.
  • Dustin Farrow & Company at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
  • Mule at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
  • Dick Danger Band at Fleetwood at Saylorville at 6 p.m.
  • Pheonix Mendoza & Josh Leo at Firepit Fridays at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 6 p.m.
  • Jake Kemble at Smash Park in Pella at 6 p.m.
  • The Snacks Dinner Show at Pura Social Club in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.
  • Drew Peer at Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
  • Ryan O’Rien at The Hall in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • Harrison Ingham at Fenders Brewing in Polk City at 7 p.m.
  • Smells Like Nirvana: Nirvana Tribute with Dead Original at Wooly’s at 8 p.m.; $20
  • Bad Friends at 300 Craft & Rooftop at 8 p.m.
  • Heath Alan and Todd Mason at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
  • Dan Trilk at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
  • Michael Huskey at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 8 p.m.; $15
  • Jason Kincel at Boggs' Hull Ave. Tavern at 9 p.m.
  • Adam Klett at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.
  • Fahrenheit at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
  • The Other Brothers at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 9 p.m.
  • Recoil at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 9 p.m.
  • Salty View at The Port, Lake Panorama in Panora at 9 p.m.
  • Monkey, Monkey, Monkey at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 2

  • The Wish Machine, Professor Von Air, L and N Music, Anthony Koester Music, Don Brown, Day’s Live Music at the Downtown Farmers’ Market from 7 a.m. – Noon
  • The Snacks at Annie’s Irish Pub at Noon
  • Confluence Brewery Patio Fest
    • Bad Friends at 3:30 p.m.
    • Jeff & The Effects at 7 p.m.
  • Taste of the Junction in Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines
    • Valley High School Jazz Combo at 2:30 p.m.
    • Guitarras ATM at 4 p.m.
    • The Get Down Band at 5 p.m.
    • Sumpin Doo with Walter Chancellor, Jr. at 8 p.m.
  • John Krantz/Randy Ward Duo on the patio at Latin King at 4 p.m.
  • Cursed Existence/Hookshot/The Emblem Faction/Keeper Of Innsmouth at GURNFEST (local music and arts mini fest) at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.; $10
  • Rob Zombie & Alice Cooper - Freaks On Parade Tour at Wells Fargo Arena at 6 p.m.; $30 to $130
  • Vintage Cafe at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
  • Punching Pandas at Fleetwood at Saylorville at 6 p.m.
  • Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 6:30 p.m.; $5 ($20 per vehicle)
  • Allie Crummy (full band) – Albums Release Show with Brian Herrin at Brenton Skating Plaza in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $15
  • Kendell Marvel at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $20-25
  • Songbirds at Pura Cocktail Lounge in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.
  • Country River Band at the Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
  • Dick Danger Band at Bike Night at Ambro’s Roadhouse in De Soto at 7 p.m.
  • Exit 113 at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
  • DSM Symphony & rock band: The Music of Abba at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in the Grays Lake Area at 7:30 p.m.
  • Jake Kemble and Kick – Days Are Gone: A Celebration of the ‘80s at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $15
  • Jazz at The Continental in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.
  • The Songbird at 1st Street Tavern in Grimes at 8 p.m.
  • Bonne Finken Band at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
  • The Feel Right at Yacht Club at 9 p.m.
  • Ataraxis + Orialus + Cyphen + Archives at Boggs’ Hull Ave Tavern at 9 p.m.
  • Round A Bout at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
  • KRACKLIN at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 9 p.m.
  • Cece Stewart & The Radio Train at Hawk Heaven Tavern in Altoona at 9 p.m.
  • Scotty & The Wingtips at Good Times in Ankeny at 9 p.m.
  • Hillbilly Air Show at The Port at Lake Panorama in Panora at 9 p.m.
  • Plastic Apartment at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 3

  • Confluence Brewery Patio Fest
    • The Sheet at Noon
    • Black Dirt Ramblers at 3:30 p.m.
  • Norwalk Music Fest at City Park in Norwalk
    • Solo/Duo Stage
      • Jordan Messerole at Noon
      • Ducharme-Jones at 2:30 p.m
      • Quinn Trilk at 5 p.m.
      • Ryne Doughty at 7:30 p.m
    • Main Stage
      • 28 Days Later at 1 p.m
      • The Feel Right at 3:30 p.m
      • D. Smith Band at 6 p.m
      • Red Dirt Renegade at 8:30 p.m.
  • Bowlful of Blues at Maytag Park in Newton; $25-30
    • Mojo Machine at Noon
    • Heath Alan & the Deep Roots at 2 p.m.
    • Melody Angel at 4 p.m.
    • Gabe Stillman at 6 p.m.
    • Joe Louis Walker at 8 p.m.
    • Denny Garcia and state harmonica champ Gus Major between sets
  • The Sons of Gladys Kravitz at Summerset Winery in Indianola at 2 p.m.
  • Jana West & Retrospect at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 2 p.m.
  • The Snacks at Wellman’s West in West Des Moines at 4 p.m.
  • Marvin Truong/Carson Parker Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
  • Suede at Jordan Creek Town Center Amphitheater in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
  • Cedar County Cobras at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $15
  • Abbie & the Sawyers at Summer Sundaze at Jamie Hurd Amphitheater in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • DSM Symphony: Heroes & Legends: Movie Favorites at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in Gray’s Lake Area at 7:30 p.m.

Holiday Addition: Monday, Sept. 4

  • Confluence Brewery Patio Fest
    • The Drive-Ins at Noon
    • The King of Mars at 3:30 p.m.
  • Madrid Labor Day Celebration at Edgewood Park in Madrid
    • Ian Gibbons at 5 p.m.
    • Suede at 6 p.m.
    • Fireworks at Dusk
  • Neil Hewitt at The Port at Lake Panorama in Panora at 6 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 or events specific to Downtown DSM.

Amelia Klatt

Amelia Klatt is the Director of Events for the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Her background working with nonprofit organizations has led to skills as a relationship builder and events professional. Klatt received her MPA from Drake University in 2019.