LONESOME DOVE

Lonesome Dove are a 4-piece indie-pop band from Perth. The band fuses big driving guitars with catchy pop hooks and two-part harmonies – creating a style that reflects their love of Pixies, The Clouds, Best Coast, Fucked Up and The Breeders.

Originally the solo project of singer/songwriter Nici Ward, Lonesome Dove became a full band in in 2021 with a lineup of musicians from some of Perth's best bands. Having grown up in the industry, it was a natural path for Nici to start writing her own music - performing and recording around Melbourne, Sydney, Los Angeles, and her home of Perth. She has collaborated with artists as varied as Luke Steele, Six Ft Hick, Rinehearts and Graveyard Train – where she sang alongside Killing Heidi's Ella Hooper. Her co-written song with Nuno Bettencort (Extreme) features on the soundtrack to Disney movie Smart People, and one of her songs wasrecently featured in the Perth short film A Mother's Gift.

Guitarist Ben Protasiewicz is an award-winning singer/songwriter, best known as the frontman of celebrated indie-rock trio Pat Chow. A WAM Song Of The Year winner with three full-length albums and countless stage hours under his belt, Ben brings boundless knowledge and creativity to Lonesome Dove's and the collaborative partnership songwriting has proved stronger and stronger with each release.

Through experience and a strong work ethic, Lonesome Dove came out of the gate strong. In their first year they were invited to perform at RTRFM's Slightly Odway, Neon Picnic and Hidden Treasures, and became a go-to support band for legends like Children Collide, Custard, Body Type, Brodie J Brummer (Flyying Colours) The Black Lips, Ammonia, Screamfeeder and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. Lonesome Dove quickly established a strong following that drew both new people and fans of their previous bands – gaining a reputation as one of the best live acts in the city.

In 2021 Lonesome Dove released the 8 track AWWWW EP, which was received with widespread praise by fans and media. In spite of the global lockdowns, Lonesome Dove continued to write and record their debut album in singer Nici Ward's studio, and have since released two singles: Burning Bridges, Bully and Something Dumb– the first taste of their forthcoming debut album.

2023 is proved to be Lonesome Dove's biggest year yet. With the release of their debut album ‘Sucked In’ in July, as well as embarking on their second tour of the east coast as well as West Coast Tours with Magic Dirt, You Am I, and Adalita.

Heading into 2024 and Lonesome Dove have continued to play supports for Jebediah, The VoVo's, Spiderbait and Grinspoon and are embarking on a double single release in November.

The future is bright for Lonesome Dove as Nici and Ben Welcome a new rhythm section with Nick Vasey and Ethan Darnell joining the party and will see the beginning of production on album No.2

LIFECRY is the melancholic alt-rock project of Ben Protasiewicz, also known to many as the bandleader of critically acclaimed and much beloved Boorloo/Perth garage rock act Pat Chow and lead guitarist and auxiliary vocalist in prolific band Lonesome Dove. Protasiewicz uses LIFECRY to boldly plunge into the depths of his psyche and drag forth what he finds there — beyond what you see on the surface and into reality. LIFECRY is an endless mirror of sorts; on one side ‘the rockstar’, an archetype, preening and peacocking masculinity, on the other ‘Ben’, questioning what he sees in his reflection, tearing apart his own sense of self on repeat.

Music brought a sense of purpose to Ben's difficult inner world since he was a young man. Currently aged 36, found his voice as a songwriter by drawing life’s highs, lows, twists and turns. He channelled his ability to find pathos-inducing off-kilter earworms using a 90s and naughties sonic palette while fronting Pat Chow, who formed in the mid 2010s. Several fuzzed out, caterwauling LPs and EPs followed, including the band’s debut, 2015’s West Australian Music award winning album Are You Okay?. Ben’s songwriting had become a force and a nomination for best guitarist followed on as did love for Pat Chow.

LIFECRY’s Pixies versus Pulp sound is continuation of that simultaneously head banging and heartwrenching musical lineage, with Protasiewicz blending everyday spills with euphoric thrills (and some irresistible guitar riffs). Ostensibly a solo project triggered by an intense desire to recontextualise Ben’s ever evolving experiences, LIFECRY’s debut LIFE/CHOICES EP was recorded solo, mixed by Liam “Snowy” Halliwell” and released in 2024. The EP was rightfully a feature release at local community radio station RTRFM and was released on cassette via Boorloo/Perth independent label Pink House Records. Following this hot flash of success LIFECRY grew, quickly evolving into a cabal of friends and collaborators that included Nicholas Pratt (Deaf Wish, Baba Yaga), Leo Downsborough (Lonesome Dove, Lauren and the Goodfights) and currently Matt Tanner (Tired Lion, Duck Teeth), Hayley-Jane Ayres (The Shallows, Zeks, Timothy Nelson)  and Jack Nelson (Black Stone From The Sun, Myths).

With a few extra bodies to spread the tough and tender word of LIFECRY Ben launched the LIFE/CHOICES EP at The Bird and Fremantle Buffalo Club as well as supporting Dr. Sure’s Unusual Practice on the WA leg of their 2025 national tour. Ben continues to write, live and love everyday, reflecting on the tatters of day to day life bind us all together.

LIFECRY has an album out in the not so distant future and more shows on the horizon.

Incredibly thrilled and excited to share the news that ZERODENT will be joining us at Pink House Records. They have been with our Pink House family since the beginning.

I am overjoyed to be a part of their upcoming third LP release, as they are genuinely one of our most beloved bands.

Stay tuned for new music from these most excellent post-punks.

NICI is the Perth-based singer-songwriters Nici Ward’s solo project where she is exploring the writing and production process alone. This year has seen the Indie release of her first single and DIY video “Blue” and has recently played supports for Jack Botts and Augie March. 2026 sees NICI explore further her passion for creating and learning.