Veterans across three Iowa communities will get free concert tickets, color guard tributes and in one case a free dinner next month, as the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association rolls out its Rock4Vets series from Nov. 7 through Nov. 13. The three-stop run touches down in Red Oak, West Des Moines and Arnolds Park, mixing hall-of-fame acts with fundraising activities.
According to KCCI, each Rock4Vets stop will include live entertainment, a color guard presentation and fundraising activities, with veterans able to get in free by showing a valid military ID. The series opens Nov. 7 in Red Oak at the Wilson Performing Arts Center, as reported by KCAU9, which notes doors open at 6:30 p.m. with music starting at 7:30 p.m.
The Red Oak lineup is stacked: Heros Encore, Matt Cox, 2 Dollar Pistols, The Mercury's, John Rogers and Ridin' High are set to share the stage, joined by special guests Jill Barr, Janice Hill, Skinny Webb, Garrett Pierson, Desirae Donnal and Ron Kloewer. The station's report adds that the night will also include a color guard presentation.
West Des Moines Brings in a Nashville Act
Four days later, on Nov. 11, the series moves to the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines. The bill features The Sons of Gladys Kravitz and Standing Hampton alongside Nashville-based ByrdWhystle, which includes Iowa Rocks Talent artist Steffen Poulsen, per the same account. Doors open at 6 p.m., with music running from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Mindy Spinks, operations manager for the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association, said in a news release that Rock4Vets offers an opportunity to recognize and thank people who served the country. Spinks also said that Americans' freedoms come with sacrifice, framing the series as a direct thank-you to the veterans it invites in free of charge.
Arnolds Park Finale Features 2025 Hall of Famer Galaxy
The series wraps up Nov. 13 at the historic Roof Garden Ballroom in Arnolds Park, where Galaxy — inducted into the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2025 — will headline alongside another color guard presentation, the station's report notes. Dinner will be provided for attendees, and veterans and their spouses can get a free meal with valid military ID. The event runs until 8:30 p.m., according to the news release cited by the outlet.
KCAU9 reports doors open at 5 p.m. for the finale.
The Rock4Vets name has shown up elsewhere in past years tied to Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association programming, including a Galaxy-headlined show at The Majestic Pavilion in Arnolds Park reported by Explore Okoboji, a Sioux City-area event at The Marquee featuring the Western Iowa Hall of Fame Band noted by the Sioux City Journal, and a Red Oak concert covered by KMA. It is not established whether those earlier reports describe the same events as this year's three-city run or separate installments of the recurring series.
For now, the details organizers have confirmed point to a packed week of music built around a simple pitch: show up, show your ID, and see acts ranging from regional hall-of-famers to a touring Nashville band, with fundraising activities also part of the series.
