For local record label Nova Labs, each year brings new endeavors. In the past, they have teamed up with fellow company Maximum Ames to put on showcases featuring their artists. Now, those showcases have developed into something more, as Nova Labs is about to put on their first music festival.

Talks about making the Uncertainty Festival a reality began last July, according to Nova Labs founder Bryon Dudley. Since then, planning for the event has gone underway as Dudley set up dates, venues, sponsors and booked artists for the festival.

The event will span across the weekend of April 21 within two venues: London Underground and DG’s Tap House. Dressy Bessy, who have performed in town before at Maximum Ames Festival will headline the weekend.

After Dudley had the chance to get to know the members of Dressy Bessy at Max Ames, he emailed them about The Uncertainty Festival and eventually the band joined the line up.

“They’re a great band, we’re big fans,” Dudley said. “We just loved what they did and we got to know them and they turned out to be really nice people.”

Dudley said that organizing the festival has been the most challenging part so far, but he mentioned that most of the planning has gone smoothly and that many have helped him along the way.

Max Ames and Nate Logsdon have been some of that help, as they have given Dudley and his team advice about putting on a music festival in town. Dudley hopes that his event will give out some of the same vibes Maximum Ames does. He commended their focus on diversity and inclusion, along with their professional attitude.  

“Finding that tone, the tone that they really set is something I really aspire to,” Dudley said.  “It’s a good goal to strive for.” 

Along with taking inspiration from Max Ames, the festival is also taking from science. The event’s name is a reference to Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle. Plus, the festival just so happens to be going on during earth day, which was not planned, but ended up being a happy accident according to Dudley.

Even though Nova Labs has taken a lot advice and tips from Max Ames, that is not to say this festival will not be unique. Dudley said that things like their theme, acts and schedule will set them apart from other festivals.

The venues who will be apart of the event have also been supportive of this festival and are ready to collaborate according to Dudley.

DG’s Tap House was where the first Nova Labs show was held, and many showcases have rocked out there since.

“DG’s is where we’ve had the vast majority of our showcases,” Dudley said. “Our first show was at DG’s, so that was a natural fit.” “Their our home.”

London Underground’s part in the weekend will also be pivotal, as they will host the opening night of the fest. Dudley said that the bar came to him about holding some of the shows after they found out about the event. In honor of the festival, they will be serving science themed drinks to go along with the weekend’s theme.

As for the lineup of musicians and bands, fans can expect a diverse group of acts. Dudley said that Nova Labs is not committed to one particular genre, and that the company tends to support whatever type of music they enjoy.

“We don’t really represent any one genre, we’ve got folk artists, we’ve got punk artists, we’ve got noise artists,” Dudley said. “There’s no real theme in terms of music and stuff, it’s just what we like. We’ve got a pretty broad taste.”

A total of thirteen acts will take the stage throughout the weekend. One of the bands part of the festival is Des Moines based group Tires.

Phil Young is a a part of Tires and a friend of Dudley’s. In fact, Young used to live in Ames and he refers to coming back into town as a homecoming.

“I always love playing in Ames, it’s kind of been a hometown for the band,” Young said.

Singer Holly Figueroa will also be apart of the festival. She said that Ames is like a hometown to her as well. Figueroa recently moved to Omaha, NE, and she said that this festival will give her a great reason to come back into town.

“I look forward to just reconnecting again with Ames,” Figueroa said. “Every time I get the opportunity it’s always great, but a music festival I know is going to be particularly near and dear for me.”

Figueroa has recorded with Nova Labs in the past, and she said while making a record can be nerve-racking, the local label made it a comfortable experience.

“You just won’t meet anybody who is more easy to work with than Bryon,” Figueroa said.

When it comes to the label’s shows, Young exclaimed that they know how to throw a party all while making the event’s environment positive at the same time.

“They (Nova Labs) do a really good job of seeing the event goes smoothly and that everyone is just having a good time,” Young said. “They know how to make people feel comfortable.”

As for Dudley himself, he hopes to to do just as Young stated, and he wants this festival to be the first of many to come in the future. Above all though, he is hoping that the audience members will find new music and latch onto it.

“If people get exposed to music that they love ,and we had a hand in that, I would be so proud of that,” Dudley said. 

The Uncertainty Festival will start at London Underground in Ames at 7 p.m. on April 21, and the event will resume at DG’s Tap House the following day at noon. To purchase tickets, visit Midwestix.