Live Music This Week in DSM: Oct. 6 – 11, 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. 6, 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.
Company's Comin' at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 11 a.m.
Opal in the Sky with Levels, Mirrorcell, From This Day Forward at xBk Live in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $24.95 (optional seating)
Harlem Nocturne: DSM Big Band Plays The Music of Duke Ellington & the Harlem Renaissance at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $30 to $18 at tables, $18 bar seats
Blues Jam at Carl's Place in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Basement Philosophers Society at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Robert Deitch at Live From The Gilded Palace at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
Dustin Baird on the patio at Gilroy’s Kitchen & Pub in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Pianist Nick Rueckert & Co. at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Luke Fox at Revel Hotel in Urbandale at 7 p.m.
Rise Again: Ricochet at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee at 7 p.m. $52 to $126
Jenna Raine with Zoe Levert at xBk Live in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $22.54
Blues Bureau at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
Open Jam at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
Lee Klett at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026

Piano Man Richard Spierenburg on the lower level of the skywalk in the local bites area in Des Moines at 11 a.m.
The Jim Casey’ at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Jessie & The Medicine Men at Poncho’s Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
Convictions with Afterlife, Stray View, Taken by Tides at xBk Live in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $27.36 (optional seating)
Divide the Fall / Modern Tiger at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Open Jam at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
Robert Deitch with Claudia Coltrain at Board & Batten Basement Speakeasy in Dallas Center at 7 p.m.
That Arena Rock Show at Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7:30 p.m.; $39.93
Zach Top with Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives at Casey’s Center in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $110 to $39.75
The Ultimate Doors (tribute band) at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $28.59
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.
Triple J’s at Yacht Club in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
Jordan Beem at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 9, 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.
Luke Fox at Bevy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
Taste Of Chaos at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee at 5 p.m.; $32 to $104
Mike Tiedeman at Caffrey’s Sports Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
Annika Wilson at Gray Moon Public Market in Newton at 5:30 p.m.
Josh Sinclair at Captain Roy’s in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Suede on the patio at The Meridian in West Des Moines at 6 p.m. (bring chairs)
The Juan & Only at Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Jake Kloefkorn at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Meadowbrook Circle at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
Mule at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m. (food truck)
Jessie & The Medicine Men at El Viejo Patio Bar and Grill in Marshalltown at 6 p.m.
Torch Songs: Lauren Vilmain with Her Jazz Orchestra at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $58 to $32 at tables, $24 bar seat
Neva Alden at Kelly’s Little Nipper in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Jung Min-Noh / Odd Pets / Clip Clop at Locals Bar & Stage in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Molly True at The Cave in Des Moines at 7 p.m.
Barn Dance – Wild Mustard at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
The Urge at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $37.36
Red Leather with The Romance and Northern Lights at xBk Live in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $30.97
Red Dirt Renegade at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 8 p.m.
Reload at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
Randy Burk at Marv’s Mainstreet Dive in Norwalk at 8 p.m.
80 Grit at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
Trio Aceto at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8:30 p.m.
Jordan Beem & Johnny G. at Talk Shop Lounge in Saint Charles at 8:30 p.m.
Matt Terronez Band at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
Lee Klett at Brick & Ivy in Altoona at 9 p.m.
After Hours at Noce in Des Moines at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

Sarah Ennis, Sean Sullivan, Zachary Freedom, L & N Music at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Des Moines at 7 a.m.
Luke Fox at Vintage & Made Fair Dallas County Fairgrounds in Adel at 1 p.m.; $8/$10 for admission to Fair from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Madison County Covered Bridge Festival in the square in Winterset
- Ava Lemon at 1 p.m.
- Eliana Grace at 1:45 p.m.
- Casey Peasley at 2:35 p.m.
- Emma Butterworth at 3:30 p.m.
- Grupo Folklorico Jovenes Embajadores at 4:15 p.m.
- Suede from 5 – 7 p.m.
Learn to Play the Harmonica with Bob Pace at the West Des Moines Public Library in West Des Moines at 2 p.m. (participants get their own harmonica)
Zachery Freedom at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
Tim Mitchum & The Part-Time Pirates at Honky-Tonk Happy Hour at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee from 3-6 p.m.
Oktoberfest at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant from 3 p.m. – Midnight
- Schnitzel Brothers at TBD
- Punching Pandas at TBD
Mancat Biegger at The Kee in Waukee at 4 p.m.
Bruce Harris at Revelton Distilling in Osceola at 4 p.m.
Joshua Sinclair at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 5 p.m.
Black Dirt Ramblers at Captain Roy’s in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Saving Sidon, Hang Your Hate, Project 10-44, Escaping the Eclipse at Strychnine in Des Moines at 6 p.m.; $10
Matt Terronez at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6 p.m.
Family Reserve Band at Big Rack Brew Haus in Winterset at 6 p.m. (White Smoke BBQ available)
Jim Lankoelma at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
A Night of Stevie, Luther, and More with Napoleon Douglas at Noce in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $58 to $15 at tables, $24 bar seats
Outlaw Country Express at Croatian Slavic Center in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
Willi Vanilli at Shirley’s Bar & Grill in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
The Haunt with 8 Graves, Platinum Moon at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $34.26
Bebe Stockwell with Khatumu at xBk Live in Des Moines at 8 p.m.; $24.95 (optional seating)
David Watson at Walker’s Place in Des Moines at 8 p.m.
Gimikk at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
R&B Only at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee at 8 p.m.; $39.18 to &154.19
Sister Sara at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 8 p.m.
Dick Danger Band at Hawk Heaven Tavern in Altoona at 8 p.m.
Bruce Day at Marv’s Mainstreet Dive in Norwalk at 8 p.m.
Pickleback at Carlisle Watering Hole in Carlisle at 8 p.m.
Luke Fox at Drifter’s in Bouton at 8 p.m.
Type to enter textJeff Banks Band at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines at 9 p.m.
Hot Bunch at Down Under Bar & Grill in Clive at 8 p.m.
Dirty Champagne at Miss Kitty’s in Clive at 9 p.m.
Psycho X at Strychnine in Des Moines at 9:30 p.m.; $10
Last Call with Max Wellman at Noce in Des Moines at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026

Middlebrook Porchfest in Cumming from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Randy Burk & The Prisoners at 11 a.m.
- Heath Alan at Noon
- Bonne Finken at 1 p.m.
- Other Brothers at 2 p.m.
- The Soul Searchers at 3 p.m.
- Brother Trucker at 4 p.m.
Luke Fox at Kippy’s Place in Elkhart at 2 p.m.
BE THE CHANGE, VOTE THE CHANGE at Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines from 3-6 p.m. featuring Steve Berry, Randy Burk, D. Smith,Chip Albright, Anne & Dave Ducharme-Jones (& friends)
Cedar County Cobras at Wilson’s Ciderhouse & Farm in Cumming at 3 p.m.
Gaylin’s 85th Birthday – Gaylin’s 11 piece Orchestra with The RiviEras at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 3 p.m.
Standing Hampton at Jamie Hurd Amphitheater in West Des Moines at 5 p.m. (food trucks)
IBHOF Band (Dwight Dario, Erich Gaukel, BillyLee Janey, Bryce Janey) at Halfway to Iowa Blues Hall Of Fame at xBk Live in Des Moines at 6 p.m.; $25 (includes dinner from Whatcha’ Smokin’ BBQ at 5:30 p.m.
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers with Ike Reilly at Wooly’s in Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $36.84
Cradle of Filth with Majestic In Death II, Blackbraid, Worm, Black Satellite at The Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.; $40.97 (VIP available)

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