# Event Details - **Event Name**: Rupert Wates at Progressive Voices Concerts - **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 16 May, 2026 at 07:30 pm – Sat, 16 May, 2026 at 09:30 pm (-05:00) - **Event Description**: Rupert Wates was born in London and studied at Oxford University. He began his full-time songwriting career in the late 1990s after signing a publishing deal with Eaton Music Limited. In London, he collaborated with top-tier performers before moving to Paris in 2001, where he formed his own quartet and began performing regularly. Since relocating to the United States in 2006, Wates has made his home between New York City and Colorado and has earned more than 50 songwriting and performing awards. His music is an eclectic blend of acoustic, melodic art/folk infused with elements of jazz, vaudeville, and cabaret. He has released twelve solo albums, each earning critical acclaim and international airplay. His songs have been covered by artists across the UK, Canada, and the U.S. In 2010, Wates released Joe’s Café, a concept album of 15 original songs inspired by true stories of everyday Americans. Each track features a different vocalist, tracing U.S. history through personal narratives spanning world wars, the Dust Bowl, Vietnam, and the Civil Rights era. Recorded live in a single weekend, the album’s intimate feel evokes a cozy café setting, with standout contributions from Darol Anger (violin) and Michael Manring (bass). Joe’s Café has been performed at festivals and venues across North America and was named Best Music Revue at the 2010 San Francisco Fringe Festival. In 2014, Wates teamed up with Toronto-based pianist Bartosz Hadala to form The Nightwatchers, a touring duo that regularly performs throughout Canada and Europe. Their debut album, The Nightwatchers, was released in 2015 and features standout selections from Wates’ extensive catalog. Performing an average of 120 shows annually across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, Wates prefers intimate listening rooms where the focus is on connection and storytelling. He was voted Artist of the Year in both 2013 and 2016 by Concerts In Your Home and was their most-booked performer for five consecutive years. In 2018, he was a finalist in the Kerrville New Folk Song Contest and named an Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Though British by birth, Wates has been hailed as "a prime figure in American music" by Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange, who praised him as “one gifted sonofabitch.” Audiences everywhere respond to the haunting, melodic quality of his songs—music that rings true. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/des-moines/rupert-wates-at-progressive-voices-concerts/200029983682642 - **Event Categories**: entertainment, music, performances, art, concerts, festivals, contests, jazz, storytelling - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 10 ## Ticket Details ## Event venue details - **city**: Des Moines - **state**: IA - **country**: United States - **location**: First Unitarian Church of Des Moines Iowa - **lat**: 41.562244555447 - **long**: -93.641720511083 - **full address**: First Unitarian Church of Des Moines Iowa, 1800 Bell Ave,Des Moines,IA,United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Rupert Wates at Progressive Voices Concerts - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/72c3287bfc5f5d33eabeb47857c0d4b7ee9834a53a2fca8a82cb1d654a566267-rimg-w1200-h676-dc020101-gmir?v=1777076921 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Rupert Wates at Progressive Voices Concerts being held? - **A:** Rupert Wates at Progressive Voices Concerts takes place on Sat, 16 May, 2026 at 07:30 pm to Sat, 16 May, 2026 at 09:30 pm at First Unitarian Church of Des Moines Iowa, 1800 Bell Ave,Des Moines,IA,United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Rupert Wates at Progressive Voices Concerts? - **A:** Rupert Wates at Progressive Voices Concerts is organized by Progressive Voices Concert Series. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Rupert Wates at Progressive Voices Concerts is ideal for live music fans, concert-goers, and anyone who enjoys unforgettable performances from their favorite artists in an electric live atmosphere. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Des Moines, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Rupert Wates at Progressive Voices Concerts sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "MusicEvent", "name": "Rupert Wates at Progressive Voices Concerts", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/72c3287bfc5f5d33eabeb47857c0d4b7ee9834a53a2fca8a82cb1d654a566267-rimg-w1200-h676-dc020101-gmir?v=1777076921", "startDate": "2026-05-16T19:30:00-05:00", "endDate": "2026-05-16T21:30:00-05:00", "url": "https://allevents.in/des-moines/rupert-wates-at-progressive-voices-concerts/200029983682642", "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "First Unitarian Church of Des Moines Iowa", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "1800 Bell Ave,Des Moines,IA,United States", "addressLocality": "Des Moines", "addressRegion": "IA", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "41.562244555447", "longitude": "-93.641720511083" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Rupert Wates was born in London and studied at Oxford University. 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