The Greater Des Moines Story: Greater Des Moines Buzz

Live Music in Greater Des Moines
May 19, 2026
By: Amelia Klatt

Live Music This Week in DSM: May 19 – 24, 2026

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes D.R.I. with Deathwish, Drew Fry, Annika Wilson, Mountain Alice, Brody & Cooper and Kris Karr. 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, May 19, 2026

  • “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
  • Piano Man Richard Spierenburg in the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
  • Jerry Beauchamp Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
  • Matt Woods Roots Music at Newton Farmers' Market in Newton at 4 p.m.
  • B. John Burns' "A Little Warmup for the Weekend" Dinner Hour Livestream at 5 p.m.
  • Young Talent Night with Taylor King at Kelly's Little Nipper in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
  • SPAM at Cruise In Car Show at Sugar Shack Diner in Altoona at 5:30 p.m.
  • Sepultura with Exodus, Biohazard, Tribal Gaze at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.; $51.29
  • DSM Big Band at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m. $30 to $17 at table, $15 bar seat
  • Locker & Company at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • Blues Jam at Carl's Place in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • D.R.I. with Deathwish at xBk Live in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $20
  • George Thorogood & The Destroyers at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee at 7:30 p.m.; $66.50 to $159.90

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

  • Piano Man Richard Spierenburg in the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
  • Chaos & Carnage 2026: Body Snatcher, Carnifex, 200 Stab Wounds, Ingested, Gates To Hell, Bodybox at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 4:45 p.m.; $50.77
  • Zane Gedler & Co. at Jazz Wednesdays at Surety Hotel in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
  • Taylor King at Des Moines Biergarten at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Brian Congdon at Gilroy’s Kitchen & Pub & Patio in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Mike Aceto Trio at Cumming Tap in Cumming at 6 p.m.
  • Live Music at Bondurant Farmers’ Market in Bondurant at 6 p.m.
  • Songwriter Lounge Open Mic Night at xBk Annex in Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.
  • Todd Partridge "Live from the Gilded Palace" Livestream at 7 p.m.
  • Napoleon Douglas & Co. at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • Open Jam at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • Rudy Love & The Encore recording at Iowa PBS Studio 3 Live in Johnston at 7 p.m. (register for free – must arrive at 6:30 p.m.)
  • Triple J’s at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
  • Drew Fry at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, May 21, 2026

  • Piano Man Richard Spierenburg in the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
  • Stardusters – Afternoon Dance at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 1 p.m.; $13
  • CeCe Stewart at Chamberlain Pub at Wesley on Grand in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
  • Standing Hampton at Camp Dodge Pool Pavilion in Johnston at 5:30 p.m.
  • Birdchild at Jasper Winery in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Tom Pevear at Confluence Brewing in Des Moines at 6 p.m. (Los Compadres Food Truck)
  • Chip Albright featuring Dartanyan Brown at Unity Center in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Bad Friends at Music In The Junction & Farmers' Market in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Joshua Sinclair at Merll’s Pub & Patio in Waukee at 6 p.m.
  • Jesse & The Medicine Men at Poncho’s Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
  • Taylor King at Trailside Tap in Ankeny at 6 p.m.
  • Annika Wilson at Gray Moon Public Market in Newton at 6 p.m.
  • Styx with Cheap Trick at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $62.15 to $171.20
  • Castor Valor / Psycho X, Parabola at xBk Live in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $ 15.32 (price + fees) (seating options)
  • KC Vocalist Jackie Myers at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $25 at some tables, $free seating
  • Open Jam at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
  • DSM Irish Session at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona at 7 p.m.
  • Rupert Wates at Board & Batten Basement Speakeasy in Dallas Center at 7 p.m.
  • Mike Conrad – Turner Center Jazz Orchestra in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $33.92
  • The Soul Searchers at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
  • MFKS at In Confidence Speakeasy at Hotel Fort Des Moines in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
  • Johnny Novacaine at Yacht Club in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
  • Cody Hicks at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, May 22, 2026

  • Piano Man Richard Spierenburg in the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
  • Brittany Sword at Fridays at Middlebrook Farms in Cumming at 4:30 p.m.
  • Friday Work Release Party with Bob Pace and The Dangerous Band at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
  • Get Off My Lawn at Truman’s Pizza in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
  • Schoon Brothers at Bevy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
  • Luke Farland at Caffrey’s Sports Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
  • The Soul Searchers at Des Moines Biergarten at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Opus Taylor at Confluence Brewing in Des Moines at 6 p.m. (Peggy O’s food truck)
  • Dueling Guitars at Food Truck Fridays at Campbell Park in Clive at 5:30 p.m.
  • The Juan & Only at El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • The Lamplighters at Zeke’s Rooftop & Grill in Johnston at 6 p.m.
  • Mike Moody & The Outlaws on the patio at Destination Grille in Grimes at 6 p.m.
  • David Watson at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
  • Mule at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
  • BitterSweet at Soggy Frog at Saylorville Lake Marina in Polk City at 6 p.m.
  • Final Mix Show Band at Wellman’s West in West Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.
  • Missouri Mule at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
  • Stark Raving Madge at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $22.39
  • Dave Zollo at Captain Roy’s at 7 p.m.
  • The Next Ten Years: A Noce Soiree: Gina Gedler, Lauren Vilmain, Napoleon Douglas, Domita Sanchez, Max Wellman 10-piece band at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $85 to $75 at a table, $85 bar seat (hors d’oeuvres)
  • LIGHTCUBE at The Cave in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • Sundance / Betty At The Helm / Stars Hollow at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • JB Williams at Kelly’s Little Nipper in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • Corbett Reeves at Reclaimed Rails in Bondurant at 7 p.m.
  • Jake Schrodt at Drifters in Bouton at 7 p.m.
  • Peter Roberts It’s All Pastel Album Release at xBk Live in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $24.95 (price & fees)
  • Casey Peasley at Walker’s Place in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
  • Get Down Band at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
  • Sister Sara at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
  • The Remedy at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
  • Mountain Alice at The Fremont in Des Moines at 8:30 p.m.
  • Not Sisters at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
  • After Hours at Noce in Des Moines at 9:30 p.m.
  • Richie Lee & the Fabulous '50s at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Saturday, May 23, 2026

  • Zachary Freedom, Eric Greving, Mike Walsh Band, The Day Of, B. John Burns at Downtown Farmers’ Market at 7 a.m.
  • Drive Thirty5 at Annie’s Irish Pub in Des Moines at Noon
  • (Eleven bands) at No Coast Punk & Oil Fest at Helter Shelter in Des Moines at 2 p.m.; $20/$30
  • Scott Eggleston at VA Hospital in Des Moines at 2 p.m.
  • The Soul Searchers at Catherine Palooza at Des Moines Biergarten at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 4 p.m.
  • Open Mic Jam with The Trickle Tree Hippies at 1833 Saloon in Des Moines at 4 p.m.
  • Dukes of Haggard at Revelton Distillery in Osceola at 4 p.m.
  • Drew Peer & Cameron McCalister at Plain Talk Books & Coffee in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
  • Brittany Sword at 1908 Draught House in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
  • Christian Connett at 1908 Draught House in Norwalk at 5 p.m.
  • Jesse & The Medicine Men at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 5 p.m.; $10 per vehicle
  • Suede at Captain Roy’s in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • The Juan & Only at Cowboy Mexican Bar & Grill in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
  • Willie Mac & The Lost Cousins at Madison Co. Winery in Saint Charles at 6 p.m.
  • Mr Softheart / Jordan Sellergren / Dickie at xBk Live in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; Donations for Iowa Abortion Access Fund
  • Jazz Vocalist Marisa Cravero at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $52 to $34 at tables, $28 bar seats
  • GhOstthekid / DSakota$lim / Fooch the MC / Jay The Architect at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • Jake Schrodt with Jerod Faux at Shirley’s Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
  • Luke Farland at Full Moon Ride at Whistling Donkey Sports Bar & Grill in Woodward at 7 p.m.
  • The Kenastons at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $11
  • Ressurection Mary and Here From Tomorrow at 1833 Saloon in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
  • Toni’s Bday Celebration with BitterSweetat Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
  • Brody & Cooper at Cabaret Sports Bare & Grille in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
  • BitterSweet Nation at Lakeside Casino in Osceola at 8 p.m.
  • Matt VanFossen at Just One More in Jamaica at 8 p.m.
  • Ducharme-Jones Band at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 8:30 p.m.
  • Casey Peasley at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 8:30 p.m.
  • Last Call with Max Wellman at Noce in Des Moines at 9:30 p.m.
  • Motley Scrue at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Sunday, May 24, 2026

  • The Hors D’oeuvres Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop in West Des Moines at Noon Mabel’s Porch at Local Bands, Bikes and Brews at Des Moines Biergarten at Water Works Park at 1 p.m.
  • The Crowfoot Rakes at Captain Roy’s in Des Moines at 2 p.m.
  • Final Mix Show Band at Truman’s Pizza in Des Moines at 2 p.m.
  • Weary Ramblers at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
  • Jake Schrodt at Kippy’s in Elkhart at 2 p.m.
  • Kris Karr at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
  • Matt VanFossen at Drifters in Bouton at 2 p.m.
  • Damon Dotson at Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop in West Des Moines at 4 p.m.
  • Forrest McCurren at Exile Brewing in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
  • Velvet Trio at Soggy Frog at Saylorville Lake Marina in Polk City at 5 p.m.
  • Gaylin Sudik & Friends at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13

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Amelia Klatt Headshot
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.

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