Live Music This Week in DSM: June 20 – 25, 2023

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes Patricia Holly at Out to Lunch on Wednesday, June 21, Des Moines Arts Festival musical acts Friday, June 23 through Sunday, June 25 and Gunge Unplugged at Twisted Vine Brewery on Saturday, June 24.

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, June 20

• “Freight Train” Frank at La Mie Restaurant in the skywalk at 11 a.m.
• Java Jews at Beaverdale Farmers’ Market at 4 p.m.
• Jesse & the Medicine Men at Adel Farmers’ Market in Adel at 4 p.m.
• B. John Burns’ “Opens for Willie” Dinner Hour Livestream at 5 p.m.
• Young Talent Night hosted by Taylor King at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 5 p.m.
• Dvorak: String Quartet No. 10 in E Flat Major, Op. 51 at Salisbury House & Gardens at 5:30 p.m.
• SPAM at Cruise In Car Show at Sugar Shack Diner in Altoona at 5:30 p.m.
• Ducharme-Jones at Lions Park in Urbandale at 6:30 p.m.
• Locker & Co. with Damon Dotson at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• DSM Irish Sessions at TBD at 7 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Outskirtz in Norwalk at 7 p.m.
• Kruse with Courtney Krause and Forest & Family at The Lift at 7:30 p.m.
• Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7:30 p.m.
• Chris Pureka with Vimka & Nicole Dean at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $20-25

Wednesday, June 21

• Patricia Holly at Out to Lunch at the parking lot off 4th Street and Watson Powell Jr. Way (Food trucks) at 11 a.m.
• Remedy Quartet at Waukee Farmers Market at the Historic Triangle in Waukee at 4 p.m.
• CW Smith at The Lodge of Ashworth in West Des Moines at 4:30 p.m.
• VCTMS with Rig Time, Plea of the Sword, Nyhilist & TBD at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.; $15 adv.
• The Sheet at Carper Winery in Norwalk at 5:30 p.m.
• Final Mix Show Band at Zoo Brew at Blank Park Zoo at 6 p.m.; $18 without membership
• Bob Pace at Stuffed Olive in Historic Court District at 6 p.m.
• Krantz/Schumacker/Ward Trio at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
• Brittany Sword at The Republic on Grand in the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.
• Royce Johns at Gilroy’s in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Tony Bohnenkamp at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men on the patio at Claxton’s Smokehouse in Altoona at 6 p.m.
• Grunge Unplugged at Firetrucker Brewery in Ankeny at 6 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Paws & Pints at 6:30 p.m.; Free (Unless you bring a dog – membership or day pass, medical documentation required)
• Jake Schrodt at 30Hop in Ankeny at 6:30 p.m.
• Abbie Sawyer at 503 Cocktail Lab at 7 p.m.
• Natalie Prauser/Marty Bush at Fiddler & Whistle Pub in Marshalltown at 7 p.m.
• Max Wellman & Tina Haase Findlay at Noce in Western Gateway at 8 p.m.; Table Seating $25, VIP $45, Bartop $17
• Triple J’s at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Kevin Lindgren at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, June 22

• “Freight Train” Frank at La Mie Restaurant in the skywalk at 11 a.m.
• When We Were Emo – two back-to-back shows with eight bands at Lefty’s; Both shows $20 – online only
  • Early show at 4 p.m. (Doors); $15
  • Late show at 9 p.m. (Doors); $15
• Hudson Road at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 5 p.m.
• Guitarras ATM on the patio at Blue Agave in Waukee at 5 p.m.
• BitterSweet Nation at Beats & Eats at Ankeny Market & Pavilion at 5 p.m.
• Bob Pace at La Poste in Perry at 5 p.m.
• Gina Gedler Trio at Latin King at 5:30 p.m.
• Damon Dotson Band at Jasper Winery in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
• Sam Joens on the patio at Confluence Brewery at 6 p.m.
• Steam Boars at Music in Valley Junction in Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Big Al’s Bar-B-Q in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Jason Walsmith Storyteller at The Cellar Winery now near Madrid at 6:30 p.m.
• Dan Medeiros at Fleetwood at Saylorville at 6 p.m.
• Jay Allen at Music in the Garden at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden in the Historic East Village at 6:30 p.m.; $12, seniors & active military: $11, children: $9
• Brittany Sword at Board & Batten, LLC in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Chris Stapleton with Marty Stuart, Allen Stone at Wells Farge Arena at 7 p.m.; $140 to $60
• Pianopalooza – Dueling Pianos at Camp Dodge Pool Complex in Johnston at 7 p.m.
• Open Jam with Groove Review at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Trailside Tap in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• The Jury at Maytag Bowl in Newton at 7 p.m.
• Guitarist Jack Curtis & Company at Noce at 8 p.m.
• Live Jazz Trio at In Confidence at the Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Scott Eggleston at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Sean Sullivan at Bix & Co. in West Des Moines at 8:30 p.m.
• Tanner Sovereign at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, June 23

• Robert Deitch at Middlebrook Agrihood (Farm) in Cumming at 4:30 p.m.
• Des Moines Arts Festival at Western Gateway Park in Western Gateway
  • Main Stage
    • Molly Nova & the Hawks at 5 p.m.
    • B2wins at 6:45 p.m.
    • The 502s at 8:30 p.m.
  • Roots Stage
    • Stringfield at 5 p.m.
    • Annie Kemble at 6:30 p.m.
    • Buffalo Nichols at 8 p.m.
• Absolute Power/Calous/Rehtek/Nyhilist at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.; $10-15
• Bob Pace & The Dangerous Band at Gas Lamp at 5 p.m.; $5
• Get Off My Lawn at Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 5 p.m.
• Retro Gold at Rendezvous On The River in Riverview Park at 5:30 p.m.
• Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
• The June Bugs at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
• Bad Friends on the patio at Confluence Brewery at 6 p.m.
• Charlson Trio with Amber Duimstra at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
• Steven Kennedy and Dave Reynolds at The Cave at 6 p.m.
• The Juan & Only at El toreado in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Cover That at Chill on the Hill, Copper Creek Lake in Pleasant Hill at 6 p.m.; $12
• Punching Pandas at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant at 6 p.m.
• Sips & Songs in The District in Ankeny
  • Tyler Frazier at 6 p.m.
  • Damon Dotson at 8 p.m.
• Monkey, Monkey, Monkey at Fleetwood at Saylorville at 6 p.m.
• Hudson Road at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Ron Burchett at The Local Vine in Indianola at 6 p.m.
• Marc Bailey at The Cellar Winery now near Madrid at 6 p.m.
• Larry Myer at Smash Park in Pella at 6 p.m.
• Charley Crockett with Myron Elkins at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6:30 p.m.; $30 to $58
• Ryne Doughty at Peace Tree Brewery DSM at 7 p.m.
• The DM Project: Retro Radio Mixtape at Pura Social Club in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.
• Chris Miller at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• Joshua’s (mostly) Acoustic Takeover at Fazio’s University Tap in Clive at 7 p.m.
• Grunge Unplugged at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona at 7 p.m.
• Sean Sullivan at Uptown Garage Brewing in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Jake Schrodt at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 7 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at Caffrey’s in Waukee at 7:30 p.m.
• Red Hott: Motley Crue Tribute with Rebel Queens at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.; $15 to $20
• J.E. Sunde with Ryan Stier at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $12-15
• I’m Gonna Jazz My Way: The Story of Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald featuring Vocalist Gina Gedler at Noce in Western Gateway at 8 p.m.; $30 table, $45 VIP,  $20 Bartop
• 90s Rockshow at Johnston Town Center in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Orphan Annie at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
• Tanner Jay at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
• Dustin Arbuckle & The Damnations with Matt Woods at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 8 p.m.; $15
• Ronley King Blues Band at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• Groove Inc. at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
• BitterSweet Nation at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 9 p.m.
• Night Like This at The Port at Lake Panorama in Panora at 9 p.m.
• Southbound: Allman Bros. Tribute at Gas Lamp at 10 p.m.; $10
• Grupo5!5 at 300 Craft & Rooftop at 10 p.m.
• McKenzie JaLynn at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 24

• Downtown Farmers Market in Historic Court District from 7 a.m. until Noon
• RINI & Madam Jules at Gas Lamp at Noon
• Brittany Sword at Annie’s Irish Pub at Noon
• Des Moines Arts Festival at Western Gateway Park in Western Gateway
  • Main Stage
    • DSM Music Coalition Student Showcase at 2:15 p.m.
    • DSM Breakerz at 3:25 p.m.
    • Penny Peach at 4 p.m.
    • Heath Alan Band at 5:15 p.m.
    • Satsang at 6:45 p.m.
    • Sister Hazel at 8:30 p.m.
  • Roots Stage
    • Brad & Kate at 12:30 p.m.
    • Day’s Live Music at 2 p.m.
    • Emmett Phillips & Friends Community Showcase at 3:30 p.m.
    • Jordan Messerole at 5 p.m.
    • River City Opera at 6:30 p.m.
    • Joshua Ray Walker at 8 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop at 12:30 p.m.
• Wade Krieg on the patio at Chocolaterie Stam at 2 p.m.
• Carson Parker/Hudson Lybarger Duo at Latin King at 3 p.m.
• Bondurant Battle of the Bands at Brickhouse Fitness
  • The Pat Bump Band at 4 p.m.
  • Cover That! vs Exit135 from 5 – 8 p.m.
• Imperial Mud Puppies at Revelton Distillery in Osceola at 4 p.m.
• November Hotel at Gas Lamp at 5 p.m.
• Brian Herrin on the patio at 1908 Draught House in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Tyler Frazier at 1908 Draught House in Norwalk at 5 p.m.
• Dan Trilk at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
• Dustin Farrow & Company at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
• Jordn Feliz with Spoken at Horizon Event Center in Clive at 6 p.m.; Free, suggested donation of $20
• Dick Danger Band at Fleetwood at Saylorville at 6 p.m.
• Big Time Grain Co. Music at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 6:30 p.m.; $5 (or $20 a carload)
• Grunge Unplugged at Twisted Vine Brewery at 7 p.m.
• Brazillian jam session with “Choro Moingona” Robert Espe, Heather Leo, Nick Leo at The Cave at 7 p.m.
• The Unforgiven at the Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
• Close Enough at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
• Stutterin’ Jimmy & The Goosebumps at Noce in Western Gateway at 8 p.m.; Table Seating $28, VIP $48, Bartop $18
• Randy Burk & The Prisoners at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Live Jazz at The Continental in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.
• JJ and the Farrells at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Mike Ruby at Ambro’s Roadhouse in De Soto at 8 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
• Roots Reggae Session at Yacht Club at 9 p.m.
• Loose Gravel at Maggie’s Rumble Room at 9 p.m.
• Plastic Apartment at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Richard Arndt & The Brew at Hawk Heaven Tavern in Altoona at 9 p.m.
• Feedback at The Port in Lake Panorama in Panora at 9 p.m.
• The Sheet at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Sunday, June 25

• Cain Alan & Deb at Maxwell’s Market in the Park at Noon
• Des Moines Arts Festival at Western Gateway Park in Western Gateway
  • Main Stage
    • The Finesse at 1:30 p.m.
    • Monday Night Live! at 3:15 p.m.
  • Roots Stage
    • Stutterin’ Jimmy & The Goosebumps at 1:30 p.m.
    • Central Iowa Music lab at 3 p.m.
• Leradee & the Positives at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 1 p.m.
• David Watson at Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 2 p.m.
• Flying Silos at Summerset Winery in Indianola at 2 p.m.
• Bob Pace Band at The Cellar Winery now near Madrid at 2 p.m.
• Neva Alden at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Girls Rock! DSM Summer Showcase at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 3 p.m.; $15
• Corner Drug Store with Prester John and Panther Creek at Lefty’s at 3 p.m.
• The Sheet at 300 Craft & Rooftop at 4 p.m.
• Damon Dotson at Wellman’s West in West Des Moines at 4 p.m.
• Steve Grismore/Rod Leaverton Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• Decoy at Live at the Creek at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines at 5 p.m. (Fireworks at dusk)
• Al Welsh at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13
• Michael Charles at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $15
• Quinn Trilk EP Release Party with Riley Jane at xBk Live at 6 p.m.; $10-15
• Luke Fox at Beaver Tap at 6 p.m.
• Dick Danger Band at Summer Sundaze at Jamie Hurd Amphitheater in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Jerico Down at Music at Haines Park in Altoona at 6 p.m.
• Good Morning Bedlam with Kali Indiana & KC Cameron at Levitt Amp Music Series at Earlham City Park in Earlham at 6 p.m.
• Music Under the Stars at West Capitol Mall at the Iowa State Capitol Building in the Historic East Village at 7 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.