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Live Music This Week in DSM: Sept. 26 – Oct. 1, 2023

Live Music in DSM

September 26, 2023

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes Kenny Wayne Shepard Band at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill on Tuesday, Sept. 26, Kelsie James at Smash Park in Pella on Friday, Sept. 29 and Ortonville Circus at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area on Sunday, Oct. 1.

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. 26

  • “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Restaurant at 11 a.m.
  • TBD at the Adel Farmers’ Market at 4 p.m.
  • B. John Burns’ “Fictional Character” 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.
  • Mike Aceto at Bike Night at Mom’s in Maxwell at 5:30 p.m.
  • Kalyna Rakel & Dan Gurman at McDivot’s Indoor Sports Pub in Grimes at 6 p.m.
  • The Glorious Sons with The Velveteers at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.; $25
  • Sugar Valley at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
  • Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7:30 p.m.
  • Kenny Wayne Shepard Band at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 8 p.m.; $59 to $99

Wednesday, Sept. 27

  • Lauren Ashworth at the Waukee Farmers’ Market at the Historic Triangle in Waukee at 4 p.m.
  • J. Jeffrey Messerole at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park at 6 p.m.
  • Joshua Sinclair at Stuffed Olive in Historic Court District at 6 p.m.
  • Andy Classen/Tanner Taylor Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
  • Brian Congdon at The Republic on Grand in the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.
  • TBD at Beaver Tap at 6 p.m.
  • Jake Schrodt at Gilroy’s in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Tony Bohnenkamp at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 6 p.m.
  • David Watson Cumming 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)
  • The DSM Big Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $15 GA, $35 reserved seating, $7 Student
  • Desperate Electric with TBA at Lefty’s at 7 p.m. (Doors)
  • Dewey Cantrell and Jeff Banks at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
  • Open Mic Music Jam at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop at 7 p.m.
  • Open Jam with “Keys and the Band” at Ambro’s Roadhouse in De Soto at 7 p.m.
  • The Red Pears with Mexican Slum Rats and 60 Juno at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $15-20
  • Kevin Lindgren at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 28

  • “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Restaurant at 11 a.m.
  • Joshua Sinclair at Greenbelt Landing in Clive at 11:30 a.m. (Food trucks)
  • Of Virtue with Divide The Fall, Archives, Orphic Illusion, Look At Me at Lefty’s at 5 p.m. (Doors); $12 adv.
  • Brian Allen & Olaf Peterson at Kinship Brewing in Waukee at 5 p.m.
  • Matt Terronez Trio on the patio at Latin King at 5:30 p.m.
  • J. Jeffery Messerole at Magee's Irish Pub in Ankeny at 5:30 p.m.
  • Joshua Sinclair at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
  • Luke Fox at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
  • NOLA Jazz Duo at The New Northwestern at 6 p.m.
  • The Crust at Music in Valley Junction in West Des Moines 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.
  • The Feel Right at Music in the Garden at Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden in the Historic East Village at 6:30 p.m.; $12, seniors and active military $11, children $9
  • Dallas Stump at Board & Batten in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
  • Jackson Churchill’s “Good Question” at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.
  • Open Jam with The Groove Review at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
  • Alleygrass on the patio at Trailside Tap in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
  • Jorge Luis Pacheo Trio at Temple Theater at 7:30 p.m.; $20 to $45
  • Basie Straight Ahead at Turner Jazz Center at 7:30 p.m.; $32
  • Pearl & The Oysters with Theaddeus Lee at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $15-20
  • Live Jazz Trio at In Confidence at Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
  • Scott Eggleston at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
  • Tank Anthony at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 29

  • Hanabie with Dropout Kings, Fox Lake at Lefty’s at 5 p.m. (Doors); $20 adv.
  • Bob Pace & The Dangerous Band at the Friday Work Release at xBk Live at 5 p.m.; $5
  • Wayne Page at The New Northwestern at 5 p.m.
  • Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
  • Grill & Kain Trio at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
  • John Krantz Duo with vocalist Kiersten Conway at The Cave at 6 p.m.
  • David Watson at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
  • Rusty Lemmon at Firepit Fridays at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 6 p.m.
  • Kelsie James at Smash Park in Pella at 6 p.m.
  • Paul Cauthen with Colby Acuff at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6:30 p.m.; $35 GA Lawn
  • The Snacks at Wellman’s Ingersoll at 6:30 p.m.
  • Lauren Daigle – The Kaleidoscope Tour with Brandon Lake at Wells Fargo Arena at 7 p.m.; $28 to $195
  • JAWNY with Adan Diaz at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $20
  • “Narrative” Quintet with Adam Larso & Chris Madsen at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $40 table seating, $65 VIP Reserved, $25 Bartop seating
  • Joshua Sinclair at Paws & Pints at 7 p.m. Free (Unless you bring a dog – membership or day pass, medical documentation required)
  • Outlaw Country Express at the Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
  • The Drama Kings at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
  • J. Jefferey Messerole at The Hall in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • The Drive-Ins at Uptown Garage Brewing in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
  • Sons of Gladys Kravitz at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
  • Dirty Thirty5 at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
  • Kevin Lindgren at Cabaret in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
  • Roots Reggae Session at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
  • Brian Herrin at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
  • Mike Bernard & Midwest Made with Catfish Murphy at House of Wax in Marshalltown at 8 p.m.; $10
  • Hillbilly Air Show at Old Timer Tavern in Marshalltown at 8 p.m.
  • Joe Inman at The Thunderdome in Newton at 8 p.m.
  • Flash in a Pan at xBk Live at 9 p.m.; $10-15
  • James Biehn Band at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
  • Tanner Jay at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.
  • Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash at Miss Kittys in Clive at 9 p.m.; $10
  • Ce Ce Steward & The Radio Train at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
  • Clint Riedel at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 9 p.m.
  • Hold On at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30

  • Live Music at the Downtown Farmers’ Market from 7 a.m. – Noon
  • Joshua Sinclair at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 10 a.m.
  • The Tighten Up All Stars at Funky New Orleans Brunch at Bubba at 11 a.m.; Reservations recommended
  • Octoberfest Party at Confluence Brewing
    • The Drama Kings at Noon
    • Trio Aceto at 4 p.m.
  • Ducharme-Jones at Bochner Farms LLC in Indianola at 1 p.m.
  • The Cardinal Sound at Howell’s Greenhouse & Pumpkin Patch in Cumming at 2 p.m.; $18 gate admission (15 online)
  • 5 Below at Mickey’s in Waukee at 3 p.m. (After the ISU and U of I games are over)
  • DUCKtober Fest Parking Lot Party at Ducktail Lounge in Clive
    • Grain Powered Duo at 3:45 p.m.
    • Star Raving Madge at 6 p.m.
  • Andy Classen/Tanner Taylor Duo on the patio at Latin King at 4 p.m.
  • The Get Down at Hawkeye Elks Lodge #160 at 4 p.m.
  • Icon For Hire w/ Conquer Divide, The Funeral Portrait, Etched in Embers at Lefty’s at 5 p.m. (Doors); $20 adv.
  • Charlson Trio at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
  • The Sinclairs at Fenderfest at Fenders Brewery in Polk City at 6 p.m.
  • Eric Hutchinson with Jeremy Messersmith at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $28
  • “Narrative” Quintet with Adam Larso & Chris Madsen at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $40 table seating, $65 VIP Reserved, $25 Bartop seating
  • Movie Musicals Cabaret (12 vocalists) at Pura Cocktail Bar & Lounge in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.
  • Jesse Villalobos and Rob Ankum at The Cave at 7 p.m.
  • Trespassing at the Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
  • Nick Hermann Entertainment at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant at 7 p.m.
  • Don Fisher at Van Wilk Winery in Sully at 7 p.m.; $12-14
  • Country River Band at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
  • Baberhood Bluegrass Band at Racktoberfest at Big Rack Brew Haus in Winterset at 7 p.m.
  • Extravision Album Release with Devin Frank and Odd Pets at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $15-20
  • Live Jazz at The Continental in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.
  • Shock Collar at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
  • Orphan Annie at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
  • Corey Jamison acoustic at Talk Shop Lounge in Saint Charles at 8 p.m.
  • Jesse & The Medicine Men at Flat Tire Lounge in Madrid at 8 p.m.
  • Electro-Beast at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
  • Heidi Hates It, Mutually Assured Destruction, Ataraxis, Viscerous, Night Bees at Boggs’ Hull Ave Tavern at 9 p.m.
  • Fahrenheit at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
  • AfterShock at Miss Kittys in Clive at 9 p.m.
  • Jason Kincel at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 9 p.m.
  • Full Moon Reggae Party at Yacht Club at 9:30 p.m.
  • Last Call with Max Wellman at Noce in Western Gateway at 10 p.m.
  • Craig Swalwell Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 1

  • Ortonville Circus at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 1 p.m.
  • Showtune Sundays with the DMGMC at The Blazing Saddle at 2 p.m.
  • Heath Alan & Todd Mason at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
  • Dick Danger Band at Summerset Winery in Indianola at 2 p.m.
  • Hold On at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 2 p.m.
  • Sean Sullivan at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
  • Claude Bourbon at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $15
  • moe. at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $40
  • Matt Jesson Album Release Party with Stutterin’ Jimmy & The Goosebumps at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $12-15
  • Dizgo with DJ Strawstone at Lefty’s at 9:30 p.m. (Doors); $12 adv.

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.