Live Music in Greater Des Moines
Sing & Dance the Night Away in Greater Des Moines
Concert Arenas Live Music Venues
The 17,000-seat Casey's Center is the premier concert venue in Iowa, attracting big name artists to make a stop like Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, Elton John, Pink, and Cardi B just to name a few. Here you’ll find the big spectacle shows that won’t stop anywhere else in the state, with the venue consistently ranking in the top 100 worldwide in terms of concert attendance.
Concert Halls
Greater Des Moines is chock full of mid-size theaters and concert halls, each with its own history and vibe. For history, you can’t go wrong with the 1,252-seat Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill. For more than 100 years, this Victorian theater with plush velvet seating and unparalleled acoustics has hosted intimate shows from everyone from Louis Armstong to Sturgill Simpson. From old to new, Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee is the latest addition to the music scene and so far, it’s made quite an impression.
There’s not a bad seat among the 3,300 in this state-of-the-art facility that has attracted the likes of The Black Crowes and Maren Morris. Val Air Ballroom opened in 1939 as an open-air dance hall and has a place among the National Register of Historic Places. The outside neon signs scream retro, but the inside acoustics sound decidedly modern thanks to a 2024 renovation. Located in Clive, the Horizon Events Center holds around 3,000 people for concerts that include 90’s faves like 311 and Papa Roach.
Clubs
There’s something special about seeing a band in the confines of a club with a few hundred of your sweatiest friends. Wooly’s in the Historic East Village is the epitome of that, with a great beer selection at the bar, taxidermy on the walls, and the “next big thing” on the stage. xBk Live is even more intimate, and a place where performers can take chances and attendees are rewarded when they go along for the ride. Speaking of intimacy, fewer things say “date night” quite like a cozy jazz club, and that’s what you’re getting at Noce in the Western Gateway, with interior that takes you back to a time and place that doesn’t exist anymore.
Festivals & Concert Series
To find one of the hottest festivals in the entire country, head 30 miles south to rural St. Charles for the impossibly hip Hinterland Music Festival. Each August, fans flock to the beautiful countryside with their tents to camp out for the 3-day festival where past performers have been Noah Kahan, Orville Peck, Chappell Roan, and so many more. And if you want stars, make sure to check out annual concert events at the Iowa Speedway and Iowa State Fairgrounds, during the INDY and NASCAR races and Iowa State Fair, respectively. Both draw huge names that are just as epic as their host events.
If you have the privilege of visiting Des Moines during the summertime, then you’re sure to find live music happening on just about every patio or green area. Take a look at our summer concert music series guide for the current lineup.
