Ready for some spooky ooky Halloween celebrations? Des Moines has tons of Halloween-themed live music events, including Night Stories (pictured) who exclusively play in October and on Friday the 13th. View our running list below to plan your fright fest!
Monday, October 12
- Tales from the Crypt 9pm @ The Lift FREE 21+
- feat. a collaboration by Betsy Soukup and Lindsay Keast and a performance by Kristian Day
Saturday, October 17
- Shitstorm + Night Stories 8 pm @ The Fremont
- feat. Shitstorm, Night Stories, Goldblums, The Vahnevants, Person Whale
Sunday, October 25
- HALLOWEEN SCREAM 5pm @ Vaudeville Mews $5 All Ages
- feat. Karen Meat & the Computer, Glitter Density, Ramona and the Sometimes, and Cookie Doh + a costume contest and dance party with POODLE spinning records
Thursday, October 29
- Thrills, Chills, and Gold Grills 6pm @ Vaudeville Mews $5 All Ages
- feat. Blowing Money Wisely Records, Laksamana, LottoBanz The Rapper, Anthony Phothong, and Evant Hankins
- Creature Feature 7pm @ Des Moines Social Club/Kum and God Theater $5 All Ages
- feat. an original soundtrack to 1922 film HAXAN by locals Night Stories and a performance by alternative punk/rock & roll band Sacerdote from Madison, WI
Friday, October 30
- 515 Alive Presents: Freak Out 7pm @ Val Air Ballroom 16+
- feat. international and national music acts, laser show, halloween decor, and costume contest
- Learn more on the 515 Alive Facebook page
- Concrete Cupcake Spoooooky Special 7pm @ Concrete Cupcake, Clive, Free, All Ages
- Music by Grandchamp, Men In Lead Masks, Cold Winds, Fred Wall +
- Misfits Karaoke Halloween Bash 10 pm @ Vaudeville Mews $5 21+
Saturday, October 31
- Grateful for Dead Moines 2 Halloween Jam – The Sequel 7pm @ Wooly’s $10-15 21+
- Britches & Hose Ukulele Club (as Styx), The Cardinal Sound (as Pink Floyd), Floodplane (as Grateful Dead), SP3 (as Stevie Wonder), and James Biehn @ the Chilly Water All-Stars (as Widespread Panic)
- Haunted Gauntlet presents: SPEWFEST 8pm @ Vaudeville Mews $5 21+
- feat. Haunted Gauntlet, Night Stories, The Vahnevants, Goldblums, Anna Gebhardt, and DJ DJ Tanner
- Halloween Revelry 8pm @ Lefty’s Live Music
- feat. Holy White Hounds, The Other Brothers, The Red Daughters, and The Fuss
- Gozer-ween 8pm @ Crane Artists Lofts (1440 Walnut)
- Art show and costume party
- Musicians including Person Whale and Jinnouchi Power
- Freshen Up Presents: BLOODBATH, a Halloween Rap Battle 9pm-2am @ Des Moines Social Club/The Basement $5 pre-sale or w/ costume/$8 door
- Featured battles: EquinoX(X) vs Showtime, Krkwd vs Profelinni, Reez vs Controversy, Maniac vs Nephew Locc, Hungry vs Flow, Young Naj vs Mac Paddy, Dru Da Goon vs H the Prodigy
- Performances by: MarKaus w/ Negative Space, Gadema, LottoBandz
- The DM Project Album Release and Halloween Party 9pm @ Star Bar FREE
- Music by Dan Medeiros, Courtney Krause, and Jess DeWitt
- Album release and Halloween Party, costumes optional
And of course, please let us know if we missed anything! info@desmoinesmc.com