Live music in Des Moines, IA

Neighbors are welcomed back for the 2026 season of the market, which takes place in the parking lot at Oak Park Restaurant. Meet the vendors highlighted on the restaurant’s menu, enjoy food trucks and live music, and consider arriving on foot or by bike.

First Fleet Concerts presents Gary Clark Jr. live at Val Air Ballroom. This is an all ages show. To support a distraction-free performance, the event will use Yondr to create a phone-free environment. Mobile phones, cameras, and recording devices are not allowed in the performance area. Upon arrival, each phone will be placed in a secure Yondr pouch that stays with its owner and is unlocked at the end of the show. If you need to use your device during the event, designated Phone Use Areas will be available, and pouches will be re-locked before returning to the performance space. Anyone using a non-permitted device during the performance will be escorted out of the venue. Consider bringing a credit card for purchases while devices are secured.

First Fleet Concerts presents Saxsquatch live at Wooly’s. This event is open to all ages. Tickets are available online or at the Wooly’s box office.

Take part in free DJ Bingo at The Pelican Post Bar & Grille.

This open mic, hosted by Geoffrey Junior, highlights acoustic performances suited for solo artists and duos. Drum kits are not permitted, keeping the sound intimate and focused on unplugged sets.

A free show at Plain Talk Books & Coffee brings together Swamp Rats and Daniel Russel Wolf. Swamp Rats blend bluegrass with punk influences, shaping a moody folk edge with ties to Detroit and Florida. Daniel Russel Wolf, a lifelong musician, performs lyric-focused pop highlighted by thoughtful writing and memorable melodies.

First Fleet Concerts brings Bowling For Soup to Val Air Ballroom for a show open to all ages.

A lively pop culture and music game night returns to GoodSons on Beaver Ave. The room fills with songs while participants identify hit tracks and audio clips from iconic films, TV shows, commercials and more. Top scorers earn cash awards, a bit of fame, and prizes, and they also add their signatures to the Is It An EGG trophy. Attire is casual and flexible, and the music keeps things moving as records spin. This event takes place on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

xBk presents an evening headlined by Wind Walkers with support from If Not Me and True North. This event is open to all ages. Wind Walkers, a Massachusetts group with a decade in alternative metalcore, broadened their approach after welcoming vocalist Trevor Borg in 2023. Their current sound blends metalcore and post-hardcore with pop elements, and their lyrics often center on mental health. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Reserved table add-ons are available in limited quantities and do not include admission. Each table accommodates up to four people, and every attendee will need a general admission ticket. Options include a Floor High-Top Side Table for $50 plus fees or a Premium Balcony High Top Table for $50 plus fees. ADA accommodations are available upon request.

First Fleet Concerts presents the Scripted 15 Year Anniversary Tour at Wooly's, headlined by Icon For Hire with support from Elijah and Lauren Babic. This concert is open to all ages. Tickets are available online or at the Wooly's box office, with in-person Friday purchases offered without fees.

xBk presents a night of high-energy string music as Big Richard performs with Weary Ramblers. This is an all-ages, general admission standing show, with a limited number of seats available on a first come, first served basis. ADA accommodations are available upon request. Big Richard brings a bold, modern edge to bluegrass, channeling contemporary themes through hard-driving arrangements and tight harmonies. Their sophomore album, Pet, was produced by the band, engineered by Mark Anderson, and recorded live to tape on Signature Sounds to capture the raw surge of their concerts. The collection draws from their heaviest material, including powerful takes on Millionaire and Red Fox Run, alongside instrumentals by fiddler Eve Panning such as K’s March and Circus Jerk. The quartet features Bonnie Sims on mandolin and guitar, Joy Adams on cello, Eve Panning on fiddle, and Hazel Royer on bass, a lineup that lends a distinctive, cello-forward dimension to their sound. The album also makes room for tender moments like Alaska and a closing cover of Make the World Go Away. A reserved table add-on is available in limited quantities for those who want to secure seating for up to four. Options include a floor high top side table or a premium balcony high top table, each priced at $50 plus fees. The table add-on does not include admission, and every attendee must hold a general admission ticket. For any tables not reserved in advance, seating is first come, first served.

The Jason Wells Band performs a blend of late 60s and 70s blues, jazz, and rock and roll as part of Music in the Junction, a weekly concert series held in the beverage garden at the Valley Junction Farmers Market. Years of touring and performing shape Jason’s music, with songs drawn from lived rock and roll experience. The event takes place in Historic Valley Junction, and the beverage garden is situated in Railroad Park. Admission is free and suitable for all ages.

Switchback delivers a genre-spanning night that blends classic American standards, country favorites, bluegrass, Irish tunes, swing, jazz, and their own originals. The acclaimed two-piece shapes the set to the room and draws a surprisingly full sound from just mandolin, guitar, and bass, threading in stories gathered over four decades of touring. Expect favorites like Blue Moon, Stardust, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Folsom Prison Blues, Rocky Top, and Danny Boy alongside their own songs, creating a lively mix of nostalgia, humor, and spirited musicianship. Tickets include a house greens salad with dressing of choice, a basket of dinner rolls with butter, and a selection of entrée options, plus coffee and water. Additional beverages, starters, entrée upgrades, and desserts are available for purchase during dinner service.

First Fleet Concerts presents a show at Wooly’s bringing together Gogol Bordello with That Handsome Devil and Pons. The event welcomes all ages. Tickets are available online or at the Wooly’s box office, including fee free Fridays.

Matthew Carlson, known for his work with Stick Arounds, Harborcoat, and the Pantones, brings a set of songs and stories to Locals Bar & Stage. Des Moines stalwarts Chip Albright and Randy Burk share the bill, shaping an evening centered on original Americana and power pop.

GoodSons on Beaver Ave presents no-cost DJ Bingo.

Thursday nights at In Confidence unfold with an easygoing vibe that keeps going week after week. The atmosphere is relaxed and steady, creating a smooth flow that lasts through the night.

Walker’s Place features live music from Kracklin, with pizza and cold drinks available. It is an easygoing evening for friends to relax, enjoy some food and music, and spend time together.

An upbeat karaoke night centered on enthusiastic singing and a fun atmosphere. Attendees can take the mic, share a song, and enjoy an evening of music.

Enjoy a relaxed evening with delicious food, satisfying drinks, and an upbeat vibe. Arrive early and plan to stick around. Reservations are available on the event website. The night focuses on supporting local artists and businesses.

This blues program spotlights Rob Lumbard's Piedmont-style fingerpicking guitar alongside Tina Haase-Findlay's tribute to the pioneering women of 1930s blues. Door prizes will be offered, with blues CDs awarded in a drawing at the end of the session.

First Fleet Concerts presents an all ages live concert featuring Coheed and Cambria alongside The Home Team.

Spend time with the G & C crew at a relaxed guitar get together. Try out amps and rigs that will be set up, and talk shop about strings, pedals, and other guitar gear.

Porchfest Des Moines heads back to the Waveland Park neighborhood with a bigger footprint after last year’s strong turnout, filling the afternoon with free live music, food, and community spirit. Both 44th and 45th Street will be closed to make room for additional stages and performances. The lineup features The Blues Bureau, B. John Burns, Bridges 2 Harmony, Central Iowa Music Lab Student Band, Scott Davis, Ducharme-Jones Band, Scott Eggleston, Eric and the Dancing Foxes, Seth Hedquist, Marilyn Jerome, Major Blues and the Mugshots, Anne Lorelle and Tim Earp, The Night Lights, Bob Pace, RiverCity Opry, and Matt Terronez with Dave Bohl. Food vendors announced include Faustinos Taqueria, Porchswing Ice Cream, and Wheatgrass Girl. Admission is free. Bringing cash for musician tips is encouraged, and a lawn chair or blanket makes listening more comfortable. Bike racks will be available, and bringing a lock is recommended. Event merchandise such as T-shirts, stickers, and koozies will be on sale with Venmo and major credit cards accepted. The festivities also include a celebration with Invest DSM in recognition of seven years of support for the neighborhood. The event website will carry schedule updates, and a map with performance times and locations is available.

First Fleet Concerts presents an all-ages concert at Wooly's featuring Alana Springsteen with Erin Kinsey. Tickets are available online or at the Wooly's box office.

Once known as Summer Sundays, this outdoor series offers free live music on Sunday evenings from mid August through early October, making it a relaxed way to take in cooler fall weather with performances by local bands and a changing lineup of food trucks. Plan to sit on the grass with lawn chairs or blankets because there is no permanent seating. Look for a different food truck each week, or pack your own picnic. Outside beverages are allowed, and the City of West Des Moines beverage policy outlines the guidelines for alcohol and glass.

Every Sunday, Locals Bar & Stage hosts karaoke with a live band. This weekly event pairs karaoke performances with live music on stage.