Beat Union

{{short description|English pop-punk band}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Beat Union

| image = Beat Union.jpg

| caption = Beat Union in 2008

| image_size =

| alias = Shortcut to Newark

| origin = Birmingham, Bromsgrove and Redditch, United Kingdom

| genre = Pop punk

| years_active = 2003–2009

| label = Haddock Recordings
Science Records

| associated_acts = Shooter McGavin
Shortcut To Newark
The High Society
Farse
The King Blues
Amen
Lostprophets

| website = [http://www.beatunion.co.uk/ Official site]

| current_members = Dave Warsop
Dean Ashton
Ade Preston
Luke Johnson

| past_members = Mark Andrews

}}

Beat Union was 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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520050218/http://www.purevolume.com/shortcuttonewark |archive-date=20 May 2011 |url-status=dead }} The group has garnered comparisons to Elvis Costello and The Jam, as well as pop punk groups like Green Day.[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1340551|pure_url=yes}} Review of Disconnected]. Allmusic[http://altpress.com/reviews/1218.htm Review of Disconnected] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007172208/http://www.altpress.com/reviews/1218.htm |date=7 October 2008 }}. Alternative Press, June 2008.

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

Their debut full-length album, Disconnected, was released on Science Records in April 2008.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110607105021/http://www.chartattack.com/news/53607/beat-union-get-disconnected-on-debut Beat Union Get Disconnected]}}. Chart Attack, 14 April 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 17 July 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!), 17 July 2008. The song also received rotation on BBC Radio 1, where it rose to #5 on the station's airplay charts.[http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/6281 For this album, Beat Union has hired music video director Daniel Chesnut to do videos for tracks: "Calling" and "Pressure Zone".Beat Union travel the world for summer festivals and fall dates with Flogging Molly and Less Than Jake] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721145918/http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/6281 |date=21 July 2011 }}. Cleveland Leader, 5 August 2008.

After releasing the album, the group toured with Goldfinger and then played the 2008 Warped Tour in the U.S.[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p918305/biography|pure_url=yes}} 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, 6 August 2008.

Beat Union split up in January 2009.

In August 2009, Luke Johnson was officially announced as Lostprophets new drummer, as a permanent member providing "it all works out".{{Cite web|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/features/read/lostprophets-announce-new-drummer-and-look-forward-to-reading-and-leeds|title=Lostprophets Announce New Drummer And Look Forward To Reading And Leeds – Features|website=Rocksound.tv|accessdate=2020-06-11}}

Luke Johnson is now the drummer for rock band Lowlives after previously playing with No Devotion.

Dave Warsop now fronts the bands Sharp/Shock and NOT. He previously played in Suedehead who played at Coachella Festival and toured with Social Distortion. He also records and produces bands out of Strong Studios in SOCAL.

Ade Preston went on to reform Farse. He also played in The King Blues, Mad Caddies and King Adora.

Dean Ashton played in Farse with Ade. He joined The King Blues and recorded 3 albums with them and then spent 5 years playing bass with NWOBHM band Diamond Head.