Live Music This Week in DSM: May 16 – 21, 2023

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes The Sheet at Bellhop in the Historic East Village on Wednesday, May 17, musical acts performing at the Greenbelt Music Festival in Clive on Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20 and Dave Watson at The Whistlin’ Donkey in Woodward on Sunday, May 21.

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 16

• “Freight Train” Frank at La Mie Restaurant in the skywalk at 11 a.m.
• B. John Burns “Turning It Down” Dinner Hour Livestream at 5 p.m.
• Belin Quartet at Salisbury House & Gardens at 5:30 p.m.
• SPAM at the Cruise In Car Show at Sugar Shack Diner in Altoona at 5:30 p.m.
• Giovannie & The Hired Guns with Letdown at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $20
• Locker & Company at Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• DSM Irish Sessions in the Beaverdale Neighborhood at 7 p.m.
• Martin Sexton & KT Tunstall at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 7:30 p.m.; $35 to $69
• Abbie Sawyer & the Flood at IPR All Access Live at xBk Live at 7:30 p.m.; $10-15
• Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 17

• Sharane Calister at Out To Lunch on High Street (with food trucks) Belin Quartet at Noce in Western Gateway at 5 p.m.
• The Drama Kings with Jamie Poulsen at DSM Biergarten in Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 5 p.m.
• The Sons of Gladys Kravitz at Big Barn Harley Davidson at 5 p.m.
• Dam Medeiros at Stuffed Olive in Historic Court District at 6 p.m.
• Betsy Hickok/Ron Roberts Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 6 p.m.
• Brandon Harris at The Republic on Grand in the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.
• Music Jam with Beggars’ Bargain at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop at 6 p.m.
• Bruce Day at Gilroy’s in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Brian Congdon at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Tyler Frazier at Paws & Pints at 6:30 p.m.; Free (Unless you bring a dog – membership or day pass, medical documentation required)
• Loudness with Bullet to the Heart, Tranzig, Skarlett Roxx & TBD at Lefty’s at 7 p.m. (Doors); $25 adv.
• The DSM Big Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $15, Reserved $35, Student $7
• Dustin Smith at 503 Cocktail Lab & Tasting Room in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.
• Triple J’s at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• The Sheet at Bellhop in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at Shotgun Bettys in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, May 18

• “Freight Train” Frank at La Mie Restaurant in the skywalk at 11 a.m.
• Joey Cool with DJ Skycrow, Late Street, $ellar Boiz, TBD at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.
• Joe Gittins at La Poste, Perry at 5 p.m.
• Gina Gedler at Latin King at 5:30 p.m.
• Brian Herrin Band at Jasper Winery in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Confluence Brewery at 6 p.m.
• NOLA Jazz Duo at The New Northwestern in the Historic East Village at 6 p.m.
• Black Diamond Loons in Historic Valley Junction at 6 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Big Al’s Bar-B-Q in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Maria Playing Harp at Fiddle & Whistle in Marshalltown at 6 p.m.
• The Weary Ramblers at Board & Batten, LLC, Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Pianist Nick Leo & Co. at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.
• Open Jam with Groove Review at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• The Sheet at Trailside Tap in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Dirt Monkey x Jantsen at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.; $24.50
• The Snacks at Gas Lamp at 8 p.m.
• Live Jazz Trio at In Confidence at Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Scott Eggleston at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• The Dirty Lowdown at Yacht Club at 9 p.m.

Friday, May 19

• Greenbelt Music Festival Day 1 on two stages outside of Horizon Events Center in Clive; $35 ($64 for Fri & Sat) ($139 2-day VIP pass)
  • Main Stage – Outdoors
    • Tray Wellington at 5 p.m.
    • Tigerlily Gold at 6 p.m.
    • Read Southall Band at 7:15 p.m.
    • Jameson Rodgers at 8:45 p.m.
    • Firetrucker Jam Grass
  • Indoor Stage
    • Jon Eric at 4 p.m.
    • The Baberhood Bluegrass Band at 5 p.m.
    • ERF at 6:30 p.m.
    • Chris Thompson & Todd Schaeffer at 8 p.m.
    • Pert Near Sandstone at 10 p.m.
• J Jeffrey Messerole at Middlebrook Agrihood (Farm) in Cumming at 4:30 p.m.
• Bob Pace & The Dangerous Band at Gas Lamp at 5 p.m.; $5
• Rob Lumbard/Randy Ward at Des Moines Biergarten at Water Works Park at 5 p.m.
• Dustin Baird at Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 5 p.m.
• Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
• Damon Dotson at Food Truck Friday at Campbell Park in Clive at 5:30 p.m.
• Lemanz/Los del 608/Los De La Villa/Banda Sensacion/Los De La R at Chicago Vibes Pt. 1 – Live bands, food trucks, car meet at La Desvelada at 6 p.m.; $40 (presale)
• Birdie Pie at Confluence Brewery at 6 p.m.
• Charlson Trio at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at 300 Craft & Rooftop at 6 p.m.
• NOLA Jazz Duo at The Cave at 6 p.m.
• Tank Anthony at Kinship Brewing in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Hawk solo at The Handlebar in Dallas Center at 6 p.m.
• Bruce Day at Captain Roy’s at 7 p.m.; $5 (inside shows, free if outside)
• Five-Time Grammy Nominee Karrin Allyson at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $40 table, $65 VIP, $25 Bartop
• Me Nd Adam at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $12-15
• Steve McLain at Peace Tree Brewing at 7 p.m.
• Taylor King at Paws & Pints at 7 p.m.; Free (Unless you bring a dog – membership or day pass, medical documentation required)
• Rick Burke at Greenwood at 7 p.m.
• Brittany Sword at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• The Unfortunate Sons at The Chicken Coop in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at The Hall in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Keith Wells & The Tonky Stompers Duo at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Jason Brown at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant at 7 p.m.
• Tony McGhee Project with Steve E. George at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• The Nadas at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.; $20
• The Snacks at Pura Social Club in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.; $10 (No cover with reservation)
• ElectroBeast at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Sister Sara at Doc’s in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Tanner Jay at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
• Luke Hender Red and Jason Evans at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 8 p.m.; $15
• Cover That at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Gravity's Constant, Birdlabs, True Commando, Bodiah at Boggs' Hull Ave. Tavern at 9 p.m.
• Run Wilson at Gas Lamp at 9:30 p.m.; $15
• Lucas Beebe at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Saturday, May 20

• Downtown Farmers’ Market in Historic Court District from 7 a.m. until Noon
• Jordan Beem at Annie’s Irish Pub at Noon
• Beggars’ Bargain at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop at 12:30 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at BEER 30 Ride at Reclaimed Rails in Bondurant at 12:30 p.m.
• Greenbelt Music Festival Day 2 on two stages outside of Horizon Events Center in Clive; $35 ($64 for Fri & Sat) ($139 2-day VIP pass)
  • Main Stage – Outdoors
    • Britches & Hose at 3:15 p.m.
    • Tall Tall Trees at 4:15 p.m.
    • Aaron Kamm and The One Drops at 5 p.m.
    • Big Richard at 6 p.m.
    • Here Come The Mummies at 7:15 p.m.
    • The Infamous Stringdusters at 8:45 p.m.
  • Firetrucker Jam Grass Indoor Stage
    • JB Williams at 2:30 p.m.
    • The Cardinal Sound at 3:15 p.m.
    • Deadline String Band at 4:45 p.m.
    • Winterland at 6:45 p.m.
    • Jon Eric at 9 p.m.
    • The Big Wu at 10 p.m.
• Scott Davis and Jamie Poulsen at Latin King at 3 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Revelton Distillery in Osceola at 4 p.m.
• Luke Fox on the patio at 1908 Draught House in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Trevor Rau at 1908 Draught House in Norwalk at 5 p.m.
• Joe Inman at Carlisle Bike Night in Carlisle at 5 p.m.
• Old Hippie Machine at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
• The High Bidders at 515 Brewing in Clive at 6 p.m.
• Oreo Meatwagon at Foster Squad Fundraiser at Uptown Ankeny Farmers’ Market at 6 p.m.
• Brick n Bob at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 6 p.m.; $5 or $20 per vehicle (up to 6 people)
• Five-Time Grammy Nominee Karrin Allyson at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $40 table, $65 VIP, $25 Bartop
• The Snacks at Captain Roy’s at 7 p.m.; $5 (inside shows, Free if outside)
• Coyote at the Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
• Jason Brown at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant at 7 p.m.
• DiZclaimer at Fleetwood at Saylorville in Polk City at 7 p.m.
• Crystal Blue at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
• Justin & Aaron at Nite Hawk Bar & Grill in Slater at 7 p.m.
• Ellis Delaney at Progressive Voices Concert Series at First Unitarian Church at 7:30 p.m.; $22-27
• Ill Omen, Joint Pain, Moon Summoner at Boggs' Hull Ave. Tavern at 8 p.m.
• Live Jazz at The Continental in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.
• Tom’s Top 8 at 300 Craft & Rooftop at 8 p.m.
• Dick Danger Band at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Rick Burke at Ambro’s Roadhouse in De Soto at 8 p.m.
• David Watson at Leathernecks Dog House, Colo at 8 p.m.; All profits and tips go to Veterans in Iowa
• Mike Vallely & The Complete Disaster/Display Case at Gas Lamp at 8:30 p.m.; $10
• Heath Alan Band at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• The Unfortunate Sons at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Taylor King at Maingate Bar & Grill at 9 p.m.
• Misled at MissKitty’s in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Toast3R at Hawk Heaven Tavern in Altoona at 9 p.m.
• Bruce Day at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 9 p.m.
• Shock Collar at Good Times in Ankeny at 9 p.m.
• Royce Johns at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.
• Nightcap with Napoleon at Noce in Western Gateway at 11 p.m.; $7

Sunday, May 21

• Taylor King at Cozy Café in Johnston at 10 a.m.
• SPAM at Historical Society Car Show on the patio at The Wet Spot in Runnells at 11 a.m.
• Dan Medeiros at Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 2 p.m.
• Bob Pace at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
• Cover That at Summerset Winery in Indianola at 2 p.m.
• Dave Watson at The Whistlin’ Donkey in Woodward at 2 p.m.
• Royce Johns at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• The Sinclairs at Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop in West Des Moines at 4 p.m.
• Steve Grismore/Bob Washut Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• Al Godfredsen at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13
• Touch of Grey at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $15
• Madam Jules at Beaver Tap at 6 p.m.
• COLD Year of the Spider 20th Anniversary Tour with Divide The Fall, All Things Lost at Lefty’s at 7 p.m.; $25 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.