Beat Union

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Beat Union


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Alias = Shortcut to Newark
Origin = Birmingham, Bromsgrove and Redditch, United Kingdom
Genre = Pop punk
Years_active =
Label = Science Records
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URL = [http://www.beatunion.co.uk/ Official site]
Current_members = Dave Warsop
Luke Johnson
Dean Ashton
Ade Preston
Past_members = Mark Andrews

Beat Union are a pop-punk band from Birmingham, Bromsgrove and Redditch, United Kingdom. They were formerly known as Shortcut to Newark. [cite web |url=http://www.purevolume.com/shortcuttonewark |title=Shortcut to Newark |publisher=purevolume |accessdate=2008-04-30] The group has garnered comparisons to Elvis Costello and The Jam, as well as pop punk groups like Green Day. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dxftxz9jldae Review of "Disconnected"] . Allmusic] [ [http://altpress.com/reviews/1218.htm Review of "Disconnected"] . "Alternative Press", June 2008.]

In 2006 the band toured the UK with Bedouin Soundclash and Zox. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2006/08/25/bedouin_soundclash_feature.shtml Bedouin Soundclash, Beat Union, & Zox] . BBC, August, 25, 2006.]

Their debut full-length album, "Disconnected", was released on Science Records in April 2008. [ [http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2008/04/1411.cfm Beat Union Get Disconnected] . "Chart Attack", April 14, 2008.] It was produced with the help of John Feldmann, producer and frontman of Goldfinger. [ [http://www.aversion.com/bands/reviews.cfm?f_id=3587 Review of "Disconnected"] . Aversion.com.] "Rolling Stone" named their song "She Is the Gun" Song of the Day on July 17, 2008. [ [http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/rs_sotd/104/song-of-the-day-beat-union-she-is-the-gun Song of the Day] . "Rolling Stone" online (mirror at Yahoo!), July 17, 2008.] The song also received rotation on BBC 1, where it rose to #5 on the station's airplay charts. [ [http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/6281 Beat Union travel the world for summer festivals and fall dates with Flogging Molly and Less Than Jake] . "Cleveland Leader", August 5, 2008.]

After releasing the album, the group toured with Goldfinger and then played the 2008 Warped Tour in the U.S. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:j9fpxqurldke~T1 Beat Union] at Allmusic] A U.S. fall tour has been announced with Flogging Molly, followed by UK dates with Less Than Jake. [ [http://www.antimusic.com/news/08/aug/06Beat_Union_To_Flog_Molly_this_Fall.shtml Beat Union to Flog Molly This Fall] . Antimusic, August 6, 2008.]

Current lineup

* Dave Warsop - lead vocals, guitar
* Luke Johnson (aka Luke van der Luke) - drums
* Dean Ashton - guitar, backup vocals
* Ade Preston - bass, backup vocals

Discography

* 2008: Disconnected

References

External links

* [http://www.beatunion.co.uk/ Official band site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/beatunion Official Myspace page]
* [http://pr.sciencerecords.net/band/show/190 Science Records band page]
* [http://www.pluginmusic.com/features.php?page=beatunion Beat Union Take To The States] Feature article. PlugInMusic.com