Live Music This Week in DSM: Dec. 12 – 17, 2023

This week’s lineup of musical acts in Greater Des Moines (DSM) includes Brittany Sword at The Republic on Grand in the Historic East Village on Wednesday, Dec. 13, David Watson at 515 Brewing in Clive on Thursday, Dec. 14 and Ryne Doughty at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant on Saturday, Dec. 16.

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, Dec. 12

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Restaurant at 11 a.m.
• B. John Burns “Welcome to Iowa – The Hawkeye State” Dinner Hour Livestream at 5 p.m.
• Advance Base with Pleasants & De Vant at Lefty’s at 6 p.m. (Doors); $12 adv.
• DSM Irish Sessions at Magee’s Irish Pub at 6 p.m.
• Blues Jam at Carl’s Place at 7:30 p.m.
• Mike Aceto at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 13

• Lucas Beebe at RracksS Fine BBQ and Bistro at 5 p.m.
• David Watson at Stuffed Olive in Historic Court District at 6 p.m.
• NOLA Jazz 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.
• CeCe Stewart at The Beaver Tap at 6 p.m.
• The Des Moines Big Band – Sounds of the Season at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; Table seating $27, VIP reserved seating $44, Bartop $18
• Bill Matykowski at The Greenwood Lounge at 7 p.m.
• Open Jam at 1833 Saloon at 7 p.m.
• Neva Dinova with Doom Flower and BELLYARD at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $15-20
• Songwriters in the Round hosted by Erik Jarvis & & Redd 7 Recordings at The Cave at 8 p.m.
• Jake Schrodt at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 14

• “Freight Train” Frank in the skywalk at La Mie Restaurant at 11 a.m.
• Seth Jamison at Confluence Brewing 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.
• Paul Little b at Board & Batten in Dallas Center at 6:30 p.m.
• Christmas with Lorie Line at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 7 p.m.; $62
• Matt Wilson Christmas Tree-O at Noce in Western Gateway at 7 p.m.; $40 Table seating, VIP reserved seating $65, Bartop $25
• Open Jam with The Groove Review and Grain Powered Duo at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 7 p.m.
• Christian Connett Piano/Acoustic Duo at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• The Way Down Wanderers with Marc Bailey at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $12-$15
• Live Jazz Trio at In Confidence at Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8 p.m.
• Scott Eggleston at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Triple J's at Yacht Club at 9 p.m.
• Lee Klett at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 15

• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Winterset Cidery in Winterset at 1 p.m.
• Mike Aceto at Bevy’s Tavern in West Des Moines at 4:30 p.m.
• Bob Pace & The Dangerous Band at Friday Work Release at Greenwood Lounge at 5 p.m.
• Matt Terronez at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 5 p.m.
• Willie James Shay at Sonny’s Pizza Bistro at 5:30 p.m.
• Grill & Kain at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
• Royce Johns at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona at 6 p.m.
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming at 6 p.m.
• BitterSweet Nation at Wellman’s Pub – Ingersoll at 6:30 p.m.
• Ryne Doughty & Scot Sutherland at Captain Roy’s at 7 p.m.
• Matt Woods at Peace Tree Brewing – DSM at 7 p.m.
• Ade and the Soul Brothers at Pura Cocktail Lounge in the Historic East Village at 7 p.m.
• Anthony Orji Quartet at The Cave at 7 p.m.
• Drew Peer at Kelly’s Little Nipper at 7 p.m.
• Sierra Griggs at Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines at 7 p.m.
• Grain Powered Duo at Fazio’s University Tap at 7 p.m.
• Touch of Grey at Firetrucker Brewery in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Silverstein with Stray From the Path, AVOID at Wooly's in the Historic East Village at 7:30 p.m. 
• 515 Organ Trio at The Brick Room in Grimes at 7:30 p.m.; $10 ($20 to reserve a table for 2, BYOB (no liquor))
• The Other Brothers at 300 Craft & Rooftop at 8 p.m.
• Hootenanny House Holiday Hoot (Open mic at 8, Claymore at 10) at Boggs’ Hull Ave Tavern at 8 p.m.
• The Get Down Band at Doc’s Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Final Mix at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• Back To Vinyl at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
• Christian Connett at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
• FretNoise at Ugly Sweater Party at Cabaret in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
• Brian Congdon at The Proletariat in Perry at 8 p.m.
• Robbie Michael at The Thunderdome in Newton at 8 p.m.
• Dirk Quinn Band at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 8 p.m.; $15
• December 2 Remember with CeeRob and 8 other acts at Lefty’s at 8:30 p.m. (Doors); $10
• James Biehn Band at Greenwood Lounge at 9 p.m.
• Dustin Farrow at Yacht Club at 9 p.m.
• Cody Hicks at Jack’s Place at 9 p.m.
• Sister Sara at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Tank Anthony & The Boys at Miss Kittys in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Scott Kirkhart at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 16

• SPAM at Ugly Sweater Christmas Party at Sam’s Bar & Grill in Altoona at 5 p.m.
• The Unforgiven at Chuck’s Restaurant at 6 p.m.
• Gina Gedler’s Christmas Performance at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 6
• Jesse & The Medicine Men at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 6 p.m.; $10
• The Snacks at Smoking G.O.A.T. Pub at 7 p.m.
• Anthony Koester Band at Croatian Slavic Center at 7 p.m.; $5 Members, $7 Nonmembers
• Ryne Doughty at Reclaimed Rails Brewing in Bondurant at 7 p.m.
• Sean Sullivan at Uptown Garage Brewing in Ankeny at 7 p.m.
• Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 7:30 p.m.; $37 to $43 Students and Seniors $30
• Rupert Wates – Progessive Concert Series at First Unitarian Church at 7:30 p.m.; $22-27
• 4th Annual Motley KISSmas Show – Red Hott: Motley Crue Tribute, KISSin Time: Kiss Tribute at Wooly’s in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.; $15
• Merry Axemas at xBk Live at 8 p.m.; $12-15
• The BASSberry Jam (6 acts) at Lefty’s at 8 p.m.; $20
• Acousti-Beast and Ricc with Rusty Putnam at Greenwood Lounge at 8 p.m.
• Josh Hakanson Trio at Jazz at The Continental in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.
• Live Jazz with David Altemeier at The New Northwestern in the Historic East Village at 8 p.m.
• Erek Wright at Ugly Sweater Party at East Side Eddie’s at 8 p.m.
• Dick Danger Band at Back Roads Lounge in Johnston at 8 p.m.
• Burnin’ Sensations at Kenny’s Garage in Waukee at 8 p.m.
• The Unfortunate Sons at Prairie Meadows in Altoona at 8 p.m.
• Christian Connett at Whiskey House in Ankeny at 8 p.m.
• MFKS at Yacht Club at 9 p.m.
• Cody Hicks at 1833 Saloon at 9 pm.
• Round A Bout at Down Under in Clive at 9 p.m.
• Jordan Beem at The Kee in Waukee at 9 p.m.
• Mike Moody & The Outlaws at Ugly Sweater Party at Hawk Heaven in Altoona at 9 p.m.
• Justin Goodchild at Brick & Ivy Rooftop in Altoona at 9 p.m.
• Recoil at Good Times in Ankeny at 9 p.m.
• The Drive-Ins at Leathernecks Dog House in Colo at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 17

• Bob Pace at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming at 2 p.m.
• Marc Bailey at Cellar Winery in Madrid at 2 p.m.
• Central Iowa Wind Ensemble at Franklin Jr. High Event Center at 3 p.m.
• The Holiday Special – A Finesse Pajama Party with Ducharme-Jones, Lani and Rhythm & Pep at xBk Live at 5 p.m.; $20-25, VIP table for 4 $100, Holiday Party Loft $400
• Wrestling With Wolves Reunion with Night of Joy, Alex Kintzle, Adam Bruce at Lefty’s at 5 p.m.; $10-15
• Nate Sparks / Anthony Orji Duo at Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m.
• Stardusters - Big Band at Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward at 5 p.m.; $13
• The Soul Searchers at Byron’s in Pomeroy at 5 p.m.; $15
• Michael W. Smith Christmas feat Michael Tait at Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill at 7 p.m.; $59 and $69
• Closer To God, Hardship, Skinned Alive, Dose at Teehee’s Comedy Club at 7 p.m.; $10
• The Tighten Up All-Stars at Juniper Moon on Ingersoll at 9 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.