Live music

Strings, drums, voices and conductors bring live music to these venues.
By Cyote Williams

DES MOINES CIVIC CENTER
221 Walnut St., Des Moines,
dmpa.org
  • May 30: Made in the Midwest Series: The Finesse: Abraham - The Release
  • June 7: Chelsey Greem and The Green Project
  • June 27: “Weird Al” Yankovic: Bigger and Weirder Tour
  • July 20: Air Supply - 50th Anniversary Celebration
  • Aug. 20: Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge

DES MOINES SYMPHONY
Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.,
Des Moines

dmsymphony.org
  • May 17-18: Pine of Rome: Season Finale
  • Sept. 27-28: Season Debut: Triumph - Tchaikovsky

HOYT SHERMAN PLACE
1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines
hoytsherman.org
  • May 19: Abstract Citizen at 7:30 p.m.
  • May 31: Georgette Jones at 8 p.m.
  • June 6: I Love The 80s at 8 p.m.
  • June 12: Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap at 7:30 p.m.
  • June 16: Ryan Adams: Heartbreaker World Tour at 8 p.m.
  • June 20: Boney James: Slow Burn Tour at 7:30 p.m.
  • July 8: Jazz in July: Night 1 at 5:30 p.m.
  • July 14: Robin Trower at 8 p.m.
  • July 15: Jazz in July: Night 2 at 5:30 p.m.
  • July 16: Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox at 8 p.m.
  • July 22: Jazz in July: Night 3 at 5:30 p.m.
  • July 29: Jazz in July: Night 4 at 5:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 2: Buena Vista Orchestra at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 7: Three Dog Night at 7:30 p.m.


NOCE
1326 Walnut St., Suite 100, Des Moines
nocedsm.com
  • May 15: Jazz on the House with Nick Rueckert and Co. at 7 p.m.
  • May 16: Follies: A Night of Broadway with Napoleon Douglas at 7 p.m.
  • May 17: The Listening Room: An Album Release with Brother Trucker at 7 p.m.
  • May 21: The Des Moines Big Band at 7 p.m.
  • May 22: Jazz on the House with Sean Kiefer and Co. at 7 p.m.
  • May 23: For Once In My Life: A night of Stevie, Luther and more with Napoleon Douglas at 7 p.m.
  • May 24: The Nate Sparks Big Band at 7 p.m.
  • May 28: The Des Moines Big Band at 7 p.m.
  • May 29: Jazz on the House with Christopher Jensen and Co. at 7 p.m.
  • May 30: Nap sings Nat: Napoleon Douglas sings Nat King Cole at 7 p.m.
  • May 31: The Fab 4: Gina Gedler sings Bette Midler, Peggy Lee, Barbara Streisand and Linda Ronstadt at 7 p.m.
  • June 6: Nola Jazz Band at 7 p.m.
  • June 13: The Domita Sanchez Show featuring Travis Ness at 7 p.m.
  • June 14: Jackson Churchill: An Album Release at 7 p.m.
  • June 20: Bojangles: Napoleon Douglas sings Sammy Davis Jr at 7 p.m.
  • June 21: Torch Songs: Lauren Vilmain at 7 p.m.
  • June 27: Kansas City the Grand Marquis at 7 p.m.
  • June 28: Steve Berry: 1974 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

WELLS FARGO ARENA
223 Center St., Des Moines
iowaeventscenter.com
  • Sept. 19: Jason Aldean at 7:30 p.m.
  • Sept. 23: Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace at 7 p.m.

IOWA STATE FAIR GRANDSTAND
Iowa State Fairgrounds,
3000 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines

iowastatefair.org/entertainment/grandstand
  • Aug. 7: Forrest Frank at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 8: Parker McCollum at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 9: Megan Moroney at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 10: Pitbull at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 11: Lynyrd Skynyrd at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 12: Rascal Flatts at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 13: Hairball’s Silver Anniversary Tour at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 14: Def Leppard at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 15: Hank Williams Jr. at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 16: T-Pain at 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 17: Kidz Bop Live at 6 p.m.

DES MOINES METRO OPERA
Pote Theatre, 513 N. D St., Indianola
www.desmoinesmetroopera.org
  • July 19: 2025 Stars of Tomorrow Concert

WOOLY’S
504 E. Locust St., Des Moines
firstfleetconcerts.com/first-fleet-venues/woolys
  • May 14: The Funeral Portrait at 7 p.m.
  • May 16: Lacuna Coil at 8 p.m.
  • May 18: Guardin at 7 p.m.
  • May 20: Drug Church Spring ’25 at 7:30 p.m.
  • May 23: Napalm Death and Melvins at 7 p.m.
  • May 24: Oceano at 6 p.m.
  • May 30: Not Quite Brothers at 8 p.m.
  • May 31: Emo Night at 9:45 p.m.
  • June 13: honestav at 8 p.m.
  • June 17: Merkules “The Survivor’s Guilt Tour” at 7 p.m.
  • June 20: Origami Angel at 7 p.m.
  • June 23: The Cat Empire at 7 p.m.
  • July 11: Lakeview at 7 p.m.
  • July 13: Heart Attack Man at 7 p.m.
  • July 15: Indigo De Souza at 8 p.m.
  • July 19: Emery at 7 p.m.
  • July 20: Carnifex at 6 p.m.
  • July 27: The Union Underground and Spineshank at 7 p.m.
  • Aug. 17: Black Stone Cherry at 7:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 30: Jean Dawson 8 p.m.

WATERWORKS PARK
Lauridsen Amphitheater,
2251 George Flagg Parkway

www.waterworkspark.org
  • June 6: Whiskey Myers at 5 p.m.
  • June 27: Treaty Oak Revival at 7 p.m.
  • July 24: Beck with Des Moines Symphony at 5 p.m.
  • Sept. 10: Lake Street Drive at 5 p.m.
  • Sept. 18: Cody Jinks at 6 p.m.

VIBRANT MUSIC HALL
2938 Grand Prairie Parkway, Waukee
www.vibrantmusichall.com
  • May 16: Rainbow Kitten Surprise at 7:30 p.m.
  • May 17: Stan Society presents Best Song Ever Dance Party at 9 p.m.
  • June 7: Cozy Worldwide: Throwback and current R&B / Hip Hop Party at 9 p.m.
  • June 8: Coheed and Cambria * Mastodon at 6:30 p.m.
  • June 18: Key Glock at 8 p.m.
  • July 9: 311 at 7:30 p.m.
  • July 24: KJJY Presents: Wynonna Judd at 7:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 26: Alice Cooper at 7:30 p.m.

XBK
1159 24th St., Des Moines
xbklive.com
  • May 15: Jay Webb at 6 p.m.
  • May 16: Deb Talan at 7 p.m.
  • May 17: Lipstick Homicide and Polyachi at 7 p.m.
  • May 18: The Sunday Sermon at 12 p.m.
  • May 21: Friko at 6 p.m.
  • May 22: Shannon Curtis - 1980s at 6 p.m.
  • May 23: Panic at the Burlesque Show Vol. 4.5 at 7 p.m.
  • May 24: DAVYN and Jack the Underdog at 7 p.m.
  • May 25: The Unlikely Candidates at 6 p.m.
  • May 29: Phoneboy with Inoha at 7 p.m.
  • May 30: Lady Reveal - Album Release at 7 p.m.
  • May 31: BYOBrass - Album Release at 7 p.m.
  • June 5: The Maytags at 6 p.m.
  • June 7: Benefit for Iowa Abortion Access Fund at 4 p.m.
  • June 13: Jordan Messerole - Album Release at 7 p.m.
  • June 14: Dead Posey at 7 p.m.
  • June 15: Rhythm & Pep Presents: Queer Icons at 5 p.m.
  • June 22: Wayne Baker Brooks at 5 p.m.
  • July 20: 40 Watt Sun and Serpentent at 6 p.m.
  • July 23: oso oso at 6:30 p.m.
  • July 27: Deep Sea Diver at 6 p.m.
  • Aug. 9: Naughty Nerds Cabaret presents: Nerdtopia at 7 p.m.
  • Aug. 23: Ira Grace with Fred Love at 7 p.m.
  • Sept. 11: Eric Hutchinson at 6 p.m.

DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN
909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines
www.dmbotanicalgarden.com
Music in the Garden Series:
  • June 5: RetroSpect
  • June 12: Surf Zombies
  • June 19: Son Peruchos
  • July 26: June Bugs
  • July 3: Weary Ramblers
  • July 10: NOLA Jazz
  • July 17: Flash in a Pan
  • July 24: The Crowfoot Rakes
  • July 31: Mango Soul
  • Aug. 7: Diplomats of Solid Sound

MUSIC UNDER THE STARS
Each Sunday in June, the ensemble will perform on the Iowa State Capitol West Mall. On July 7, they will perform at the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park.
Summer concert series:
  • June 2: New Orleans Masquerade
  • June 9: Going for Gold
  • June 16: Music In Our Schools
  • June 23: Piano Men
  • June 30: U.S. Coast Guard Band
  • July 7: Mama Mia

JASPER WINERY
2400 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines
www.jasperwinery.com
When the warm weather rolls in, Jasper Winery welcomes all for its Summer Concert Series, occurring Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs to this outdoor summer event.
  • May 15: Dueling Guitars featuring Brian and Brad
  • May 22: The Schmidt Brothers
  • May 29: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
  • June 5: The Stolen Winnebagos
  • June 12: Decoy
  • June 19: Rhino
  • June 26: Damon Dotson Band
  • July 3: The Nadas
  • July 10: B2wins
  • July 17: Pianopalooza Band
  • July 24: Dazy Head Mazy
  • July 31: Not Quite Brothers with Emma Butterworth

Music festivals

GREENBELT MUSIC FESTIVAL
May 16-17
Horizon Events Center, 2100 N.W. 100th St., Clive
www.horizoneventscenter.com
Two days, two stages, a festival for all ages. There will be indoor and outdoor stages during the two-day event, which welcomes all ages. Friday is headlined by The Devil Makes Three; Saturday is headlined by Greensky Bluegrass.

HINTERLAND
Aug. 1-3

Avenue of the Saints Amphitheatre, 3357 St. Charles Road, Saint Charles
www.hinterlandiowa.com
A short drive from Des Moines is where Iowa’s largest music festival resides. Each summer, world-renowned musical artists descend onto the small town of Saint Charles for a weekend full of music, camping and good times. Headliners:
  • Aug. 1: Tyler, The Creator
  • Aug. 2: Kacey Musgraves
  • Aug. 3: Lana Del Ray

BEVINGTON BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
June 20-21
2103 Warren Ave., Bevington
www.briarpatchamphitheater.com
Two full days of bluegrass music appreciation, featuring Front Porch, Mountain Sprout, The Baberhood Bluegrass Band, Stringfield, Danny Spain Gang, Family Reserve and Black Dirt Ramblers.