Anyone that wants to learn about the local music scene in Des Moines has come to the right place. The best musical instrument stores in your area including some different sections for where to buy guitars and the best drum shops in town will also be shared.
While there is plenty of crossover between some lists we think we got the right spots in the right sections for you. Up next we will get into quality instrument repair shops near you because some reading this may need a piano tuned, a guitar repaired, or work done on other band instruments and there is somebody out there that can assist.
Contents
Then it will be time to pivot to the best music lessons for kids or adults. Following that we will give a shout out to the top stores for music lovers that sell vintage CD’s and records here.
We also think many of you will want to know about the best concert halls and live music venues while some others may prefer to visit bars and restaurants that have free live music around the city.
And we will get you out of here with the best festivals on the Des Moines music calendar. Stay with us til the end where you will find a map with the wide variety of stores and venues we are discussing pointed out.
Everyone reading this is welcome to look through more of our blogs on the Midwest at that link.
Des Moines Musical Instrument Stores
Some of the best musical instrument stores near you would be:
- Uptempo Music at 2714 Beaver Ave
- Rieman Music at 4420 E Broadway Ave
- Family Music Center-Miller Music at 4110 SW 9th St
- Professional Music Center at 1710 NW 86th St
Uptempo Music sells a wide selection of saxophones, electric guitars, drums, keyboards, and other instruments in your area while also offering lessons and rent to own programs for school band and orchestra instruments.
Pianos, fine strings, horns, percussion, guitars, amps, and gear are available at Rieman Music as well as local lessons, repairs, and other in store services.
You can also find a wide variety of high quality instruments at Family Music Center-Miller Music.
Where To Buy Guitars
For all the guitars and accessories you need check out:
- Bilt Guitars at 1159 24th St
- Tree Guitarworks at 4125 7th Pl
- Becker Fine Stringed Instruments at 6567 University Ave
- Ye Olde Guitar Shoppe at 3403 70th St
- Guitar Center at 3910 University Ave
Bilt Guitars sells custom designed guitars near you along with shirts and other fun merchandise.
You can have your guitars repaired and even buy new ones at Tree Guitarworks.
Hundreds of hand carved local instruments and bows ranging from beginner to professional level including bass, violins, cello, viola, fiddles, mandolins, guitars, and flutes are available at Becker.
Ye Olde Guitar Shoppe offers some of the best lessons and repairs as well as a large selection of electric, steel string, and classical guitars.
Guitar Center is home to one of the largest selections of popular guitars, basses, amplifiers, keyboards, workstations, drums, percussions, microphones, PA systems, DJ equipment, stage lighting, recording software, studio gear, and more.
Both Uptempo Music and Rieman Music from our best Des Moines music stores lists are also solid options for top quality guitars.
Drum Shops Near You
Dan’s Drums at 5810 Franklin Avenue is one of the best places to buy quality used drums, percussions, and other instruments in your area plus they provide repairs and appraisals.
Earlier we linked you to Uptempo Music and Guitar Center but we also need to mention them here in the drum stores section as they have a lot to offer.
Instrument Repair
Rieman Music from our local music stores list offers professional instrument repairs too.
Music Lessons
Level up by taking lessons at a music school in your area:
- Sinclair Music Studio at 8435 Long Meadow Ln
- Arrow Academy Of Music at 10430 New York Ave G
- School of Rock at 7450 Bridgewood Blvd #200
Sinclair Music Studio teaches guitar, bass, and ukulele lessons near you.
Professional piano classes are offered at Arrow Academy of Music.
School of Rock has programs that combine one on one lessons with group band rehearsals and students can even put on live performances at local venues.
We mentioned Uptempo Music, Rieman Music, and Ye Olde Guitar Shoppe in an earlier list but they are also great places for music lessons.
CD & Record Stores
Check out all kinds of vintage CD’s and records at these local stores for music lovers:
- Zzz Records at 2200 Ingersoll Ave
- Jay’s CD & Hobby at 3315 SE 14th St
- Vinyl Cup Records at 2815 Beaver Ave 2nd floor
- Ratt’s Underground Records at 3800 Merle Hay Rd #992
Zzz Records has a diverse selection of rock and roll, indie rock, electronica, jazz, country, and other genres.
A large selection of great used vinyl records, CD’s, and DVD’s are sold at Jay’s CD and Hobby.
Vinyl Cup also buys and sells used records.
Des Moines Live Music Venues
Seeing a concert at Des Moines live music venues is always a good time:
- Lefty’s Live Music at 2307 University Ave
- Wooly’s at 504 E Locust St
- Gas Lamp at 1501 Grand Ave
Lefty’s Live Music is a 350 capacity concert hall and full service bar focusing on quality entertainment, sound, and more for all genres.
You can watch concerts with multiple genres as well as find a full bar with modern lighting at Wooly’s.
Live music performances by various bands are hosted at Gas Lamp where they also offer reasonably priced beers.
Fun Restaurants With Entertainment
You can take a date or a group of friends to these restaurants with live music:
- The Republic on Grand at 401 E Grand Ave
- Kelly’s Little Nipper at 1701 E Grand Ave
- Django at 1420 Locust St
There’s live music every Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm at The Republic on Grand.
Kelly’s Little Nipper is a fun restaurant that hosts live music in Des Moines every Friday at 7pm.
Django is one of the best live jazz clubs in your area with an elevated dinner menu and curated cocktails along with the great jazz artists that perform every week.
Bars With Live Music
There are also some bars that play live music around town:
- Greenwood Lounge at 3707 Ingersoll Ave
- Star Bar at 2811 Ingersoll Ave
- 300 Craft & Rooftop at 300 W MLK Jr Pkwy
- Beer Can Alley at 409 Court Ave 3rd floor
- Captain Roy’s at 1900 Saylor Rd
Greenwood Lounge hosts concerts in a variety of genres plus they often have a live band in the bar.
Star Bar hosts live music nights near you every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
300 Craft and Rooftop occasionally hosts local artists to play live music in the summer.
Beer Can Alley is one of the newest honky tonks in town offering past and present country music via DJ’s or live music on stage plus they host other concerts of various genres.
Captain Roy’s is a bike trail patio bar and live music venue that serves Americana cuisine.
Music Festivals In Your Area
80/35 Music Festival is a multi day music festival held in July that includes a stage for national touring bands and several smaller stages featuring regional and local supporting acts every year.
In the past we have also discussed:
- CD & Record Stores In Omaha
- CD & Record Stores In Kansas City
- CD & Record Stores In The Twin Cities
- CD & Record Stores In Madison
Enjoy The Des Moines Local Music Scene
We tried to cover everything as quickly and as well as possible for you on this page. After reading about the best musical instrument stores, drum and guitar shops, instrument repair services, classes and lessons, vintage CD and record stores, concert halls and other live music venues near you like bars and restaurants, and the best festivals in the region you should have a much better understanding of what is available.
And anyone that made it this far might just know a little bit about the local music scene themself and if so feel free to tell us what we got wrong in the comments or share your own thoughts. Now it is time for you to go enjoy the music in Des Moines.
