STORY BY BRENNAN HAYMOND
Lefty’s Live Music concert hall and bar has come to the Drake neighborhood and is now open. This venue will be the newest addition to the live music scene here in Des Moines.
I get a feeling that live music here in Des Moines is making a comeback from the digital age of music downloads and Spotify we see today.
Des Moines and live music have seen their connections throughout the past 40 years.
The Iowa State Fair started to host live acts from, Sonny and Cher in 1972 to this year having the Fray in the Grandstand. The Iowa state fair is only once a year. This gave Des Moines only a taste of what live music could bring to this city.
The Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) founded in 2005 brings live music to Des Moines though events like 80/35 and Little Big Fest. I love the DMMC because they are always supporting live music venues like Vaudeville Mews, Wooly’s and Lefty’s.
Vaudeville Mews and Wooly’s are both night club/bar style venues that host local musicians trying to get their foot into the door to national headliners like Switchfoot.
These venues show the traditional live music scene that what happens throughout the year, unlike the Iowa State Fair.
One venue that is open during the summer months that always gets a buzz is Nitefall on the River. This outdoor venue that has seen artists like the Nadas and NEEDTOBREATHE perform at the
Simon Estes Amphitheatre with the downtown Des Moines skyline in the background.
You can never go wrong with starting off the start of the summer with good weather, a cool drink and live music with friends.
Lefty’s Music Hall is what Drake University needs to step up in the live music scene in Des Moines. I cannot wait to see what new local and national bands come to the Drake neighborhood.
