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Live Music This Week in DSM: Oct. 17 – 22, 2023

Live Music in DSM

October 17, 2023

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes The Des Moines Big Band at Noce in Western Gateway on Wednesday, Oct. 18, Drew Peer at Kelly’s Little Nipper on Friday, Oct. 20 and Confluence Brewing’s 11th Anniversary Celebration with live music from Ducharme-Jones Band and Buckmiller Schwager on Saturday, Oct. 21.

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, Oct. 17

  • “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Restaurant at 11 a.m.
  • Patresa Hartman and Steph Graham at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
  • Locker & Co. at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
  • Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 18

  • Choro Moingoina at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
  • TBD at Stuffed Olive in Historic Court District at 6 p.m.
  • Abram Miller/Nate Sparks Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
  • Mike Aceto at The Republic on Grand in the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.
  • Andy Fleming & Matt Cullen at Beaver Tap at 6 p.m.
  • Levi Smith at Paws & Pints at 6:30 p.m.; Free (Unless you bring a dog – membership or day pass, medical documentation required)
  • Tyler Halverson with Jordan Messerole at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $18-20
  • The Des Moines Big Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $15, Student – $7
  • Del Saxman Jones & Keith Owens at Smoking GOAT Pub at 7 p.m.
  • Open Mic Music Jam at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop at 7 p.m.
  • Open Jam at 1833 Saloon at 7 p.m.
  • Open Jam with “Keys and the Band” at Ambro’s Roadhouse in De Soto at 7 p.m.
  • Rockin’ Johnny Burgin at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
  • Jordan Beem at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 19

  • “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Restaurant at 11 a.m.
  • Lauren Vilmain Trio at Latin King at 5:30 p.m.
  • Paleface Swiss with Enterprise Earth, VCTMS, Crown Magnetar, Drowning Life at Lefty’s at 6 p.m. (Doors); $22 adv.
  • Taylor King at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
  • Ryne Doughty at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
  • Jesse & The Medicine Men at Ponchos Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
  • Sam Pattison at 515 Brewing in Clive at 6 p.m.
  • Joel Sires at Board & Batten in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
  • DSM Symphony at premiere of “Killers of the Flower Moon” at Varsity Theater at 7 p.m.; $12 (single seats and front row left)
  • Pianist Nick Leo & Co at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; Free
  • Mike Ruby at 1833 Saloon at 7 p.m.
  • Open Jam with The Groove Review at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
  • Piano Night featuring Justin Schneider at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
  • Live Jazz Trio at In Confidence in Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
  • Scott Eggleston at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
  • Scott Kirkhart at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 20

  • Monsters Ball: Haunted Highway Tour at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.; $15
  • Bob Pace & The Dangerous Band at Friday Work Release at Greenwood Lounge at 5 p.m.
  • Sean Sullivan at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
  • Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
  • Sara Routh at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
  • NOLA Jazz Duo – Jeff Kane / Jamie Poulsen at The Cave at 6 p.m.
  • Robert Deitch at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
  • Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics at World Food Prize Hall at 6:30 p.m.; $47 for Zone B
  • Bojangles: Napoleon Douglas Sings The Music of Sammy Davis Jr. with His Jazz Orchestra at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $27 table seating, $45 VIP Reserved, $18 Bartop seating
  • Jake Doty at Paws & Pints at 7 p.m.; Free (Unless you bring a dog – membership or day pass, medical documentation required)
  • Drew Peer at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
  • JohnPaul Burtch at The Hall in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • Nick Hermann at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • The Morning Belles at Ames City Auditorium at 7 p.m.; $5
  • Kaleidoscope with Mike Mains & The Branches at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.; $25
  • Ade & The Soul Brothers at Pura Cocktail Bar at 8 p.m.
  • Rainbow Penley and Allison Hall at Alleged Lee’s at 8 p.m.
  • Andersen Coates Album Release at Teehee’s Comedy Club at 8 p.m.; $10-15
  • Gimikk at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
  • South 35 at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
  • Jerry Beauchamp Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
  • Plastic Apartment at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
  • Damon Dotson at Cabaret in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
  • Luke Fox at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
  • Taylor King at The Thunderdome in Newton at 8 p.m.
  • Forrest McCurren Duo at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 8 p.m.; $15
  • MinionFest featuring Hot Kunch/Display Case/Stateparks at xBk Live at 9 p.m.; $10-15
  • The Nitty with 8 others at The Art of Grittin’ Release Party at Lefty’s at 9 p.m.; $10
  • Electro-Beast at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
  • Static X & Sevendust at Horizon Events Center in Clive at 7 p.m.; $39 to $58
  • Hold On at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
  • Jason Brown Band at Miss Kittys in Clive at 9 p.m.
  • Jordan Beem at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 9 p.m.
  • Lucas Beebe at Hawk Heaven Tavern in Altoona at 9 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 21

  • Live Music at Downtown Farmers’ Market in Historic Court District from 7 a.m. - Noon
  • Confluence Brewing – 11th Anniversary
    • Ducharme-Jones Band at Noon
    • Buckmiller Schwager Trio at 3 p.m.
  • Bill Bergen/Tanner Taylor Duo at Latin King at 4 p.m.
  • Sumpin Doo at Hawkeye Elks #160 at 4 p.m.; $5
  • Shot Glass Theater Band at Revelton Distillery in Osceola at 4 p.m.
  • Jeff Banks Band at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
  • The Salvation Army: Unmasking The Singer at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 6 p.m.; $35 (VIP $125)
  • Matt Terronez at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
  • Harrison Ingham at Fenders Brewing in Polk City at 6 p.m.
  • Crystal Blue at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 6 p.m.; $10
  • J. Jeffrey Messerole at Smash Park in Pella at 6 p.m.
  • The Weary Ramblers at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 6:30 p.m.; $5
  • Lanco with Willie Tate at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $29.50
  • The Nate Sparks Big Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $27 table seating, $45 VIP Reserved, $18 Bartop seating
  • Coyote at Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
  • Bohemian Queen – Queen Tribute with Gimikk at Horizon Events Center in Clive at 7 p.m.; $29 to $47
  • The Drive-Ins at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant at 7 p.m.
  • Damon Dotson at The Thunderdome in Newton at 7 p.m.
  • DSM Symphony with Sandbox Percussion at Discover Scheherazade at Des Moines Civic Center at 7:30 p.m.; $15 to $70
  • Del Saxman Jones & Keith Owens Duo at Captain Roy’s at 7:30 p.m. (After the movie outside)
  • Elizabeth Moen at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $18-22
  • The BASSberry Jam at Lefty’s at 8 p.m.; $20 (Costume contest)
  • Godcrutch, Big Handfull at Maggie’s Rumble Room at 8 p.m.
  • Heath Alan at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
  • Wayne Page/Carson Parker Duo at The Continental in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.
  • Whiskey Biskit at East Side Eddie’s at 8 p.m.
  • Toast3r at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
  • The Bond at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
  • The Unfortunate Sons at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
  • The Band SPAM at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
  • The Chuggaluggers at Ambro’s Roadhouse in De Soto at 8 p.m.
  • Jordan Beem at Flat Tire Lounge in Madrid at 8 p.m.
  • Round A Bout at Mickey’s in Waukee at 8:30 p.m.
  • Bob Pace Band at 1833 Saloon at 7 p.m.
  • Dick Danger Band at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
  • Cover That at Miss Kittys in Clive at 9 p.m.
  • Mike Moody & The Outlaws at Hawk Heaven Tavern in Altoona at 9 p.m.
  • Sneaky Pete at Leathernecks Dog House in Colo at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 22

  • JohnPaul Burtch at Cozy Café in Johnston at 10 a.m.
  • Andrew Hoyt at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 1 p.m.
  • Trilk Rock School Showcase at xBk Live at 1 p.m.
  • NOLA Trio at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 1:30 p.m.
  • CeCe Stewart & The Radio Train at Summerset Winery in Indianola at 2 p.m.
  • Cover That at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 2 p.m.
  • Jake Schrodt at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
  • DSM Symphony with Sandbox Percussion at Discover Scheherazade at Des Moines Civic Center at 2:30 p.m.; $15 to $70
  • Hawk at Nite Hawk Bar & Grill in Slater at 3 p.m.
  • Community Jazz Center (CJC) 2023 Hall of Fame at Noce in Western Gateway at 5 p.m.; $20-25 (With dinner)
  • “Saxman” Jones and Owens at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
  • Stardusters at Lake Robbins Ballroom, Woodward at 5 p.m.; $14
  • Mace Hathaway at Byron’s, Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $15
  • Samia with Venus & The Flytraps at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $20 (VIP $76)
  • Empowerment Arts Showcase – Domestic Violence Awareness at xBk Live at 7 p.m.
  • The Black Jacket Symphony Presents The Eagles’ “Hotel California” at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 8 p.m.; $25 to $35
  • Pentagram String Band with Gipsy Rufina, Danny Russell Wolf at Yacht Club at 8 p.m.
  • Open Jam with No Vacancy at Boggs’ Hull Ave Tavern 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 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.