BAND SPOTLIGHT | Prairie State Heartache

Originally formed about a year and a half ago with music industry up-and-comer Jonathan Cour as singer-songwriter and front man, Prairie State Heartache garnered interest from major label producer Rick Beato (Shinedown, Need to Breathe) and seemed poised to make some big noise. But alas, it was not to be, as the band found itself in the lurch when Cour relocated to Savannah, Ga. Remaining members Andrew Shackelford (guitar), Granville Helm (guitar, vocals) and Justin Angel (drums) took a brief hiatus to look for a replacement singer. Turns out it was Angel the drummer, who is now lead vocalist, with Zac Stephens (drums) and Nick Byerline (bass) filling out the rest of the new lineup. The group uses “rock, pop, country and whatever influences” infused into predominantly original material to express the particular sound of Prairie State Heartache. After months of steady rehearsal the retooled PSH debuts the live show while preparing song demos for submission to producer Beato in continued “pursuit of the dream.”