Live Music This Week in DSM: Oct. 20 – 25, 2026

Don't miss this week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM)! 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. If you go to any shows, go to the venue’s online site and check for any changes, cancellations.

Be generous to musicians and waitstaff. They all need your support!

If you know of any venues that have live music in the area, that I’m not posting, please email Bryan.

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

“Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Elevate in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Dale Menning & the Stardusters at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
Jake Schrodt for Ladies Night at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 5:30 p.m.
DSM Big Band at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $30 to $17 at tables, $15 bar seats
Locker & Co. (Jon Locker, Ronley King, Neil Stoffregen, Chris Hansen) at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Blues Jam at Carl's Place in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
The Toxhards with Kate Consentino at xBk Live in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $18.94 (optional seating)

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Open Music Stage at Mickey's Lounge in Waukee at 6 p.m.
The Night Lights at Live From the Gilded Palace at 7 p.m.
Kyle Bachara at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Randy Burk & The Prisoners at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Open Mic Music Jam at 1833 Saloon in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Open Jam at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
Will Barnett at Shotgun Betty's in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Swentone Swing – 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.
Patresa Hartman at Confluence Brewing in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
The Nadas, Brother Trucker, Sara Routh, John Waite – A Clean Water Music Benefit to elect Chris Jones at The Meridian in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.; $26 (VIP at 5 - $55 + levels above)
Jesse & The Medicine Men at Poncho’s Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
Bodeans at Temple Theater in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $55 One seat left
Gina Gedler - A Night of Standards at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $20 at table, $Free bar seat
J-Line at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Rock Jam at 1833 Saloon in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Open Jam at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
Joshua Sinclair at Board & Batten Basement Speakeasy in Dallas Center at 7 p.m.
DSM Irish Session at Magee’s Irish Pub & Eatery in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
Thomas Rhett with Zach John King and Emily Ann Roberts at Casey Center in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $96.25 to $42.25
TVBOO with Twopercent, Ozztin at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $34.26
Scott Eggleston 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.
Jordan Beem at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
Claudia Coltrain at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 23, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Friday Work Release Party with Bob Pace and The Dangerous Band at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 5 p.m.
Mancat at Halloween Party at Bevy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
David Watson at Caffrey’s Sports Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
The Other Brothers, Allegro Hernandez Band, Procedure at Strychnine in Des Moines at 6 p.m.; $15
The Juan & Only at Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Chris Novak at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Joshua Sinclair at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
Claudia Coltrain at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m. (food truck)
Buffalo Joe at Murph & Mary’s Pub in Newton at 6 p.m.
Vagabond Grove (Duo) at Talk Shop Lounge in Saint Charles at 6:30 p.m.
Robert MaHarry at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
Fly Me To The Moon; the Max Wellman Big Band Plays Sinatra & More at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $58 to $32 at tables, $24 bar seat
Matt Terronez Band at Captain Roy’s in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Natalie Simon & LIGHTcube at The Cave in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Taylor King at Kelly’s Little Nipper in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Astro Brat at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Jesse & The Medicine Men at Walker’s Place in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
The Ripoffs at Pal Joey’s in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
NHE at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant at 7 p.m.
Oh He Dead at Temple Theater in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $30 to $70 seats left
1964 The Tribute (Beatles) at The Ingersoll in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $138 includes dinner that starts at 5:30 p.m.
Plack Blague with Microwaved at xBk Live in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $15 (optional seating)
Cover That at Down Under in Clive at 8 p.m.
Renegade Soul at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
Monkeyfour at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
Damon Dotson at Marv’s Mainstreet Dive in Norwalk at 8 p.m.
Dogtown Rhythm Band at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
Jake Beaty at Brick & Ivy in Altoona at 8 p.m.
The Ice Pirates at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 8:30 p.m.
Dustin Farrow & The Relics at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
After Hours at Noce in Des Moines at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

B. John Burns, Dan & Quinn Trilk, Vagabond Grove, The Day Of at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Des Moines at 7 a.m.
Joe Demerath at Hawk Heaven Tavern in Altoona at 11 a.m. (before the Hawkeye game)
Rob Lumbard & Tina Haase-Findlay - Crossroads: A Journey With The Blues at the Forest Avenue Library in Des Moines at 2 p.m.
Bob Pace at Blues With A Healing at VA Community Living Center in Des Moines at 2 p.m.
Robert Deitch at Revelton Distilling in Osceola at 4 p.m.
Looking4Luke at Winterset Cidery in Winterset from 4-10 p.m.
The Juan & Only at Cowboy Mexican Bar & Grill in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Bob Pace at The Hills Bar & Grill in Pleasant Hill at 6 p.m.
Jesse & The Medicine Men – Halloween at Big Rack Brew Haus in Winterset at 6 p.m.; $5 (White Smoke BBQ available)
Willie Mac & The Lost Cousins at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 6:30 p.m.; $5
Twztid at Wooly’s at 7 p.m.; $39.94
Mike Conrad with Iowa jazz Composers Orchestra – Album Release Show at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $58 to $15 at table, $24 bar seat
Jeff Banks at Captain Roy’s in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Illegal Smile / Charles Easton at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Unforgiven at Croatian Slavic Center in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
Adam Kulmatycki Duo at Shirley’s Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Midnight Radio at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 7 p.m.
Country River at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
Jake Schrodt at West Hill Brewing in Indianola at 7 p.m.
Jake McVey at Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield at 7 p.m.; $25
1964 The Tribute (Beatles) at The Ingersoll in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $138 includes dinner that starts at 5:30 p.m.
Kansas at Vibrandt Music Hall in Waukee at 7:30 p.m.; $64 to $182.30
The Host Country - Album Release Show with Joel Sires at xBk Live in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $12
Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $46.13 (plus VIP available)
Reload at Down Under Bar & Grill in Clive at 8 p.m.
Columbia House at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 8 p.m.
Mary Runyan Band at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
The Sheet at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
Brian Congdon at Marv’s Mainstreet Dive in Norwalk at 8 p.m.
Mike Aceto at Drifters in Bouton at 8 p.m.
Sister Sara at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 8:30 p.m.
David Zollo & Brian Cooper at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
Bruce Day at Striking Sparrow Lounge in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
Last Call withMax Wellman at Noce in Des Moines at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Silversonics at Local Bands, Brews & Bikes at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in Des Moines at 1 p.m.
Bob Pace & The Dangerous Band at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
Ryne Doughty at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
Brazilian jam session with Choro Moingona at The Cave in Des Moines at 3 p.m.
Banjo Kat at Wilson’s Ciderhouse & Farm in Cumming at 3 p.m.
Acousti-Beast (at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 4 p.m.
Bob Fields & Swingtime at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13
Missing Link and Fatal Realm with Skinned Alive, Losing Dice, Tearaway at Strychnine in Des Moines at 5:50 p.m.; $25
Gaelynn Lea – Book Discussion and Performance with Dea Ex Machina at xBk Live in Des Moines at 6 p.m.; $18
Drowning Pool x Saliva at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $39.94

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