Live Music This Week in DSM: Aug. 22 – 25, 2024

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes David Watson, Kelsie James, Jana West & Retrospect and The Unfortunate Sons at live music venues across the region.  Check them out at restaurants and nightlife businesses while grabbing a bite or enjoying a cocktail. And don’t forget to connect through other things to do, too. 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.

Thursday, Aug. 22

• Hot Off The Grill at Soumas Courtyard in Perry at 5 p.m.
• Max Wellman / Steve Charlson Duo at Latin King at 5:30 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 6 p.m.
• Casey Joe Collins at Confluence Brewing at 6 p.m.
• Echos V at Music in the Junction in Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• David Watson at 515 Brewing in Clive at 6 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Pancho’s Friendly Confines in Waukee at 6 p.m.
• Jake Schrodt at Bouys at Saylorville Marina in Polk City at 6 p.m.
• Brad & Kate at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden in the Historic East Village at 6:30 p.m.; $12
• Ryned Doughty at Board & Batten in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Maggie Rose with Crystal Rose at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $20
• Damon Dotson at Either/Or at 7 p.m.
• Open Jam with Groove Review at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• The Soul Searchers with Dwight Dario at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Ava Connell at Shotgun Bettys in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 23

• World Food & Music Festival at Western Gateway Park
  • Main Stage
    • Lani at 12:30 p.m.
    • Weary Ramblers at 2:30 p.m.
    • Guitarras ATM at 4:30 p.m.
    • Sharane Calister & The Feel Right Band at 6 p.m.
    • Parranderos Latin Combo at 8 p.m.
• Robert Deitch at Friday on the Farm at Middlebrook Farm in Cumming at 4:30 p.m.
• Rig Time / Ataraxis / Overtire / Kongju / Habeas Corpus at Lefty’s at 5 p.m. (Doors); $10
• Bob Pace & The Dangerous Band at Friday Work Release Party at Greenwood Lounge at 5 p.m.
• Get Off My Lawn at Truman’s Pizza Tavern at 5 p.m.
• Brian Congdon at Caffrey’s Sports Pub in Waukee at 5 p.m.
• Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
• Zachary Svoboda at Magee’s / Winestyles in Ankeny at 5:30 p.m.
• Kelsie James at 30Hop in Ankeny at 5:30 p.m.
• Dan Medeiros at Grimaldi’s in Ankeny at 5:30 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
• Stadium Drive at Confluence Brewery at 6 p.m.
• Sugar Valley at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
• The Juan & Only at El Toreado in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• Dry Run Creek at Firetrucker Brewing in Ankeny at 6 p.m.
• Dick Danger Band at Bouys at Saylorville Marina in Polk City at 6 p.m.
• Alli & I at Pocket Park at Fenders Brewing in Polk City at 6 p.m.
• Gina Gedler at Firepit Fridays at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 6 p.m.
• Jamey Johnson with Whitey Morgan & The 78’s, Mae Estes at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park at 6:30 p.m.; $39.50 to $95
• The Jones & Owens Duo at Wellman’s Ingersoll at 6:30 p.m.
• Neva Alden at Smash Park in West Des Moines at 6:30 p.m.
• Rollo with John Griffith at Talk Shop Lounge in St. Charles at 6:30 p.m. (Bring chairs)
• Steve Grismore at Tannin Wine Bar in Marshalltown at 6:30 p.m.
• Avery Anna at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.; $18
• John Krantz Trio at The Cave at 7 p.m.
• Unique Vibrationz at Vibes Kitchen & Bar at 7 p.m.
• The Drama Kings at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• Adam Whitehead at Ducktail Lounge in Clive at 7 p.m.
• Royce Johns at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant at 7 p.m.
• Ducharme-Jones at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 7 p.m.
• One Can Stan with Eric Kennedy, Matt Jesson at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $12-15 (Seating options available)
• Longshot at Down Under in Clive at 8 p.m.
• The Bond at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• The Chickadees at Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
• Acousti-Beast & Friends at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• Cass Flores and Terrance Luther at Bike Night at 1833 Saloon at 9 p.m.
• Scott Kirkhart at Shotgun Bettys in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.
• Luke Fox at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 9 p.m.
• Ted Stockton at Sister’s Place in Carlisle at 9 p.m.
• Palomino at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 24

• World Food & Music Festival at Western Gateway Park
  • Main Stage
    • Joshua Sinclair at 11 a.m.
    • Leradee & The Positives at 5 p.m.
    • Beats y Bateria at 6:30 p.m.
    • Brass Against at 8:30 p.m.
    • TBD at Annie’s Irish Pub at Noon
• Dustin Baird at Tuddy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at Noon
• Cumming Street Party in Cumming
• Neva Alden at 1 p.m.
• Black Diamond Loons at 5 p.m.
• Ingersoll (Ave.) Live
• Isiserettes Drill & Drum Corp at 3 p.m.
• June Bugs on the East Stage at 5 p.m.
• The Cardinal Sound on the West Stage at 6 p.m.
• Dick Danger Band on the East Stage at 7:30 p.m.
• The Unfortunate Sons on the West Stage at 8:30 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Revelton Distillery in Osceola at 4 p.m.
• The Midlanders at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray’s Lake Area at 5 p.m.
• Corner Drug Store / Hollowtree / Further South at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.; $5
• ?at 1908 Draught House in West Des Moines at 5 p.m.
• Joshua Sinclair at 1908 Draught House in Norwalk at 5 p.m.
• Last of the Mojitos at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 5 p.m.
• Southbound – Tribute to the Allman Brothers at Captain Roy’s at 6 p.m.
• CeCe Stewart Band at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
• The Juan & Only at El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill #2 at 6 p.m.
• Jason Mayer Band at Bouys at Saylorville Marina in Polk City at 6 p.m.
• Jana West & RetroSpect at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 6:30 p.m.; $5
• Luke Bryan with George Birge, Larry Fleet & Chayce Beckham at Wells Fargo Arena at 7 p.m.; $40 to $200
• Songs From Across The Pond with Amber Duimstra & Her Band at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.
• Unforgiven at Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
• SPAM Band at Eagles Lodge – Eagles Aerie 109 at 7 p.m.
• Mixtape (Nashville) at The Yard Summer Concert Series at Johnston Town Center in Johnston at 7 p.m.
• Crystal Blue at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 7 p.m.; $10
• The High Bidders at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Jazz at The Continental in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.
• The Bond at Down Under in Clive at 8 p.m.
• Rusted Steel String Band at Big Rack Brew Haus in Winterset at 7 p.m.; $5
• Project TDS at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Yubu at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Ghost Riders at The Port on Lake Panorama in Panora at 8 p.m.
• Pedal Palooza! Brian Allen at Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee at 8:30 p.m.
• Standard Time w/ Max Wellman at Noce in Western Gateway at 9 p.m.
• Lucas Beebe at Hawk Heaven Tavern in Altoona at 9 p.m.
• Sorry For Last Night at Good Times in Ankeny at 9 p.m.
• Lincoln Highway at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 10 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 25

• World Food & Music Festival at Western Gateway Park
  • Main Stage
    • The Crowfoot Rakes at Noon
    • Sons of Bossa at 1:30 p.m.
    • Shock Collar at 3:30 p.m.
• Brian Herrin at Tuddy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at Noon
• Mike Aceto Trio at DSM Biergarten at Water Works Park in the Gray's Lake Area at 1 p.m.
• Open Jam with The Anthony Orji Trio at Vibes Kitchen & Bar at 2 p.m.
• Lucas Beebe at Summerset Winery in Indianola at 2 p.m.
• Stercel Barnes Band at The Cellar Winery in Madrid at 2 p.m.
• Looking 4 Luke at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset at 2 p.m.
• Brazilian Jam Session with Choro Moingona (Robert Espe, Heather Leo, Nick Leo) at The Cave at 3 p.m.
• TBD at Wellman’s West Pub & Rooftop in West Des Moines at 4 p.m.
• Andy Classen / Tanner Taylor Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• Stardusters at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13
• Kurt Allen Band at Byron’s in the Pomeroy Community Center at 5 p.m.; $20
• Charles Johnson at Exile Brewing at 6 p.m.
• The Unfortunate Sons at Summer Sundaze at the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater in West Des Moines at 6 p.m.
• War Hippies at xBk Live at 7 p.m.; $20-25 (Seating options available)

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, including Chamber luncheons, roundtables and ribbon cuttings. You can also find live music happening each week thanks to the “Live Music This Week in DSM” blog series.