entertainment

Since forming in 2006, Moon Taxi have brought their genre-bending musicality to a boldly adventurous body of work, all while taking their live show to leading festivals across the country and sold-out runs at such iconic venues as the Ryman Auditorium. In a dynamic new era for the Nashville-based band—vocalist/guitarist Trevor Terndrup, lead guitarist Spencer Thomson, bassist Tommy Putnam, keyboardist Wes Bailey, and drummer Tyler Ritter—their fifth full-length Silver Dream broadens their sonic palette even further, exploring everything from folk to soul to inventively crafted electronic pop. But while the album embodies an endlessly forward-thinking sound, its lyrics offer a thoughtful reflection on days gone by.

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Abbie Sawyer is a Des Moines singer-songwriter loved for her warmth and lush storytelling. Her songs illuminate moments of hope, despair, and beauty, drawing deeply on her experience as a mother. She'll be joined by her 9-piece band for this performance.

From deep in the heart of the country arrives the beguiling sounds of D. Smith. Crafting rich songs that reflect the lives and landscapes of middle America, Smith captures listeners with his warm vocals and expressive delivery. D. Smith’s inviting debut album “Cabin Fever” (2019) distills these strengths and showcases the best of his vivid songwriting.

Sunday, June 26, 1:15 p.m. on the Roots Stage

In September of 2021, Tom Buckmiller (Waukee) and Brian Schwager (West Des Moines) won the Iowa Blues Challenge, an event sponsored by the Central Iowa Blues Society and they are Iowa's representative at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN on the famed Beale Street. Buckmiller and Schwager put this band together to highlight the electrified blues they love so dearly. With a rhythm section of Eric Smidt (Ames,IA) and 2014 Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Larry Mersereau (Urbandale, IA) this quartet works to keep the blues alive by playing their own original blues compositions while paying attention to the historic roots of the genre.

Sunday, June 26, 11 a.m. on the Hy-Vee Main Stage

In celebration of Pride Month, the Des Moines Arts Festival is proud to host a Drag Show featuring some of Iowa’s top performers, Nikki Love, Mae Banks, Jack Frost, Kitty B, and Sharaya Sinz Diamond and Kansas City’s Riri Sanchez-Herrera.

Guests interested in expanding their experience can purchase a ticket to a Drag Brunch with an exclusive pre-show mix and mingle with the drag personalities. Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.

There’s nothing better than sipping on a festival vodka lemonade and standing in the middle of downtown Des Moines, listening to a live band surrounded by beautiful art, delicious food, and a perfect sunset on a summer evening. At least that’s what I remember before joining the team in 2018 for the award winning Des Moines Arts Festival. Actually, that description is still pretty accurate, minus being a bit more sweaty with a chatty radio attached to my hip.

The Des Moines Arts Festival has seen a variety of musicians play the streets of Des Moines. Over the past 10 years the festival has welcomed national touring musicians, all free of charge for our guests thanks to the support of our generous sponsors.

If you’ve been an avid DMAF fan, you’ve seen the stages change. The Hy-Vee Main Stage has always been placed on the lawn of the Pappajohn Building, centered between 12^th & 13^th street. After trials and errors, we have been able to place the stage at an angle just right so the sound reverberates in certain areas to not disturb conversations between artists and guests.

The Jazz and Wine Pavilion was introduced 2010, located where the Krause Gateway Building now sits. With an initial focus of exactly what you’d think the pavilion contained, this tent and stage was moved and renamed the Acoustic Stage in 2016, sitting in the lot between two of our partners, Des Moines Radio Group and Flynn Wright.

As the acoustic stage became less acoustic sounding, we were seeing a trend on the musicians being booked for this stage. They fit more in the Americana, rootsy, singer song writer realm. In 2019 The Roots Stage was born. The stage has a more intimate feeling, an up close and personal view of the musicians and small bands. While the stage is set up under a 30x60 open air tent; the energy of the musicians and guests overflows the space. The goal for the space is to make guests feel like they’re hanging out in our backyard with their favorite musicians, patio lights included.

In 2009, the Des Moines Arts Festival® brought in the first nationally touring musicians to play at the festival. The organization was in need of additional “flare” to keep guests entertained and make their length of stay longer, assist in beverage revenue, and in general, take the festival up a notch. Collective Soul opened for pop rock singer Gavin DeGraw. Green River Ordinance wrapped up the line up that year.

2010
Katelyn Epperly: Iowa girl famed on American Idol, now working in the alias name Everly in Nashville
Fundamental Elements: good ole’ soul

2011
The Smithereens: mainstream rock with hits “Blood and Roses” and “Girl Like You”. Lead singer Pat DiNizio passed away in 2017 at the young age of 62.
Scars on 45: Indie rock band from across the pond
The Envy Corps: making the Iowa alternative rock scene proud

2012
To celebrate the Festival’s 15^th Anniversary, the team organized a Friday night, All-Iowa Lineup, featuring The Nadas, Thankful Dirt, Rebel Creek, James Biehn, and Bonne Finken.

2013
Aaron Neville: R&B soul vocalist and musician
Los Lobos: a crazy compilation of rock, tex-mex, country, and folk
Alejandro Escovedo: Texas singer-songwrited (personal note, totally underrated. I saw him at The Continental Club in Austin for $5. Place was PACKED and he was amazing.)

2014
10,000 Maniacs: the best early 90s college rock sound around
Bodeans: Midwest neighbors from Wisconsin. The band stretches across rock genres.
Iris Dement: now calls Iowa home and we’re lucky to have her. John Prine coined her “America’s Sweetheart”

2015
Mat Kearney: soft rock musician, has a handful of radio singles you know
Eddie Money: RIP….you’ve definitely sang his songs at the top of your lungs in a bar.
Greg Brown: paving the folk way for fellow Iowa musicians. He’s also married to Iris Dement (see 2014).

2016 – launch of Acoustic Stage
Gin Blossoms: first hit “Hey Jealousy” hit the charts in 1989. Feel old? I do.
Grand Funk Railroad: I’m sad I missed this show. I heard the VIP Club was lit when GFR hit the stage!
Matt Woods: three time Iowa Blues Challenge winner, bringing the blues sounds with some foot stompin’ and hollerin’.
The Well Pennies: folk-pop duo, husband and wife team who now call Des Moines home by way of Boston.

2017
Saint Motel: Indie pop rockers, get ready to dance when these guys come on.
Big Head Todd & The Monsters: fun fact, during the 2017 festival, the DMAF team had to pick the band up from the airport. Chris Vance drew a “pick up” sign for the team to take to the airport on an un-used coroplast sign. I now have my own original Vance piece at my desk.
The Pines: Iowa guys making great folk music. No surprise considering two of the members have Bo Ramsey as their dad (see 2019).
Joe Purdy: singer songwriter, Joe should be on every folk playlist.

2018
Spin Doctors: rock band, best known for “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” you can’t help but sing their songs when they come on the radio. You’re probably aren’t getting half the lyrics right but we won’t judge you.
Sir Sly: Indie rock band, can tear up the stage floor with their moves.
Jukebox the Ghost: power pop band, fun fact: one of our interns met them and cried.
Jeffrey Foucault: American songwriter with influences from across genres
Joe Pug: American songwriter, fun fact, hopped off the stage and played directly to the front row. He also has a podcast: “The American Songwriter.” One of the most eloquently spoken musicians in my opinion.

2019 – The Roots Stage is born
The Strumbellas: Canadians who cross over into alternative country, indie rock, and gothic folk. Fun fact, one of the guys needed a hair tie (hair ties were not on the rider). I gave him mine and used a crappy rubber band to hold my hair up the rest of the night. I hope he appreciated that. Also, they were lovely.
The Mowglis: alternative rock that are the perfect band for a summer playlist.
The Family Stone: the hits this band has is unbelievable. The band consisted of original members and some children of members. If I get to see Chaden Halfhill, owner of Silent Rivers, DMAF Board member AND amazing VIP Club builder, get to dance like that again, I’d book them over and over.
Bo Ramsey: talk about Iowa legend, Bo is a singer song writer with not only his own albums but has back many acts such as Greg Brown and Lucinda Williams.
William Elliot Whitmore: another Iowa gem in the folk world. Fun fact, he lives on a farm in SE Iowa. He doesn’t play a lot around here but when he does make sure you go.

2021
lovelytheband: chances are you were humming their hit single "Broken" in 2018 - it broke records on the alternative chart!
Here Come the Mummies: the band is made up of internationally renowned musicians, although I couldn't tell you who they are due to the whole mummy costume thing, but they're put on a show!
Tommy Prine: he picked up the guitar at age 10, with a pretty good mentor (and Dad), John Prine, Tommy is looking ahead in making a name for himself in the Americana world.
Lilly Hiatt: fresh off her album released in 2020, "Walking Proof", Lilly and her band was a crowd favorite.