OLD UNION profile picture

OLD UNION

Original Coal-fired Rock & Roll

About Me


Imagine a musical road trip through Memphis and Muscle Shoals with side trips to Texas and Detroit, ending up in Macon and you have a idea of the distinctive American rock and roll of Old Union. With musical influences as varied as the individual members, the music of Old Union has been described as fresh and new, yet with a cool retro vibe.

Old Union was formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2001 by Chuck Foster (keyboards and lead vocals), Johnny Zvolensky (guitars), Steve Spotty Swertfeger (guitars and vocals), and David Bryndal (drums), with the recent addition Professor "JDubb" Williams (bass). The strong, well-crafted songs and soulful, gritty vocals of Foster remain the heart and soul of the band. With additional songwriting from Zvolensky, and Swertfeger, Old Union has acquired the reputation as one of the best song-oriented bands working today. With superb musicianship from the twin guitar assault of Swertfeger and Zvolensky and the locked in solid-as-a-rock rhythm section of Williams and Bryndal, Old Union hits the stage with an aggressive rock edge drenched in Southern soul.

Old Unions debut CD; Forgiveness Or Permission , released in December of 2003, drew favorable reviews from Hittin The Note , An Honest Tune , Glide and numerous newspapers around the country. The CD, which featured guest vocals from rock legend, Bonnie Bramlett led to a successful Bramlett/Old Union Northeastern tour including a critically acclaimed appearance at the Edmonton Folk Festival. Their non-stop touring schedule has taken them from coast to coast with appearances at such high profile festivals as Bonnaroo , High Sierra Music Festival , Blue Ridge Harvest Festival, Chattanooga’s Riverbend Festival , Nashville’s Riverstages and Dancin in the District , Terrapin Hill , Down On The Farm and Uphonia. They have appeared with such artists as Karl Densons Tiny Universe, North Mississippi All Stars , Ratdog , Govt. Mule , Allman Brothers Band , Black Crowes and The Charlie Daniels Band. The intensity of their live shows has earned them a loyal fan base that is growing with every show. Their hometown Nashville club shows are legend, drawing a whos who of musicians on stage to jam including former Allman Brother Jack Pearson , rock and roll Hall Of Famer Steve Cropper, Bonnie and Becca Bramlett, Jimmy Hall, Tony Furtado, members of The Charlie Daniels Band and numerous others.

After working with the band in the fall of 2005 with producer John Carter Cash, who was drawn to the band by their songwritting ability and called their sound; “lyrically poignant, sonically explosive, emotionally charged and culturally significant. The best new rock music I’ve heard in years.”

In the fall of 2007 Old Union released their independent sophomore release called Motels and Highways and a companion website that chronicles the effort. The album has received critical acclaim and the band has begun to tour in support of the record.
When its all said and done, Old Union are just five guys trying to write songs that honor their heroes and play good music for good people. They are simply carrying on the grand tradition of celebrating the glorious joy of American rock and roll at its purest.

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Music:

Member Since: 4/18/2005
Band Website: oldunion.com
Band Members:

Chuck Foster (keyboards and lead vocals)

Johnny Zvolensky (guitars)

Steve Spotty Swertfeger (guitars and vocals)

Professor "JDubb" Williams (bass)

David Bryndal (drums)


Influences: Camping and Old Union....perfect combo!!
Sounds Like:

Check out Old Union on the live music archive! You can stream and download music for FREE!

Purchase the debut CD "Forgiveness or Permission" (2003)

Also available on iTunes

Stream the ENTIRE album here



Record Label: Stonewall Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

The New Album, "Motels & Highways"

Hello Family, Friends, and Colleagues,OLD UNION, has independently released our second full-length album titled, "Motels & Highways." This project has been the ultimate labor-of-love that took 6 mont...
Posted by OLD UNION on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:44:00 PST

GET EM NOW! Dont wait, Old Union Canoe Campout TiX!

Ok here is the deal, it is getting down to the wire, if you have been waiting NOW is the time to get in. Here are the details from the website:We are excited to announce the first official Old Union C...
Posted by OLD UNION on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:48:00 PST

Old Union Telegram Vol#3 Issue#3

March 2007In this issue!As the oxidized wires of the Old Union telegraph crackle to life here are the latest headlines in the Old Union world. * New album in the works * St Paddy's Weekend! *...
Posted by OLD UNION on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:36:00 PST

New Years 2006 THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL III

We are excited to announce that Old Union is hosting the Third Annual Midnight Special Sunday, December 31st at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville, TN. Featuring Johnny Neel and Chris West and the Junk...
Posted by OLD UNION on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 04:41:00 PST

Old Union Telegram Vol.3 Issue.3!

In this issue!Fall is offically here, the leaves are in full color and Old Union is moving from town to town. As we take a brief stop to relay a few words the oxidized wires of the telegraph crackle t...
Posted by OLD UNION on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:04:00 PST

Discount Down on the Farm III Ticket Package

DOWN ON THE FARM: QUINCY FL, NOVEMBER 10-12thDown on the Farm Music Festival is in it's third year and Old Union is back. This year's line up is more impressive than years past and will be the talked ...
Posted by OLD UNION on Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:21:00 PST

You Tube, Archive, etc...

Hey Guys!Just a friendly reminder that our NEW DVD is out!! In the meantime check out free music and videos of Old Union on the web: http://www.archive.org/browse.php?collection=OldUnion&fi eld=%2F...
Posted by OLD UNION on Tue, 26 Sep 2006 03:36:00 PST

Back to school and OU back in business

::North Mississippi Allstars show and Post Panic Party Announced:: :: The Old Union Online Store is up and running. Enhancements will follow, but you can now purchase online all of the current Old Uni...
Posted by OLD UNION on Sun, 10 Sep 2006 11:26:00 PST

Duncan May to sit in with the Union, Halloween DVDs are in!

From Old Union's site:This Saturday our friend and mentor Duncan May will fill Jason Williams role on bass guitar for the Music City Brewers Festival. Jason is caravaning around Europe and will return...
Posted by OLD UNION on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 07:25:00 PST

Old Union Rocks The Village, Welcome Jason Williams To The Family

Before an estimated crowd of 1500 people and perhaps 10 times that many Corona's, this past Friday night marked one of our best hometown shows EVER when we played the annual CINCO IN THE VILLAGE conce...
Posted by OLD UNION on Sun, 14 May 2006 07:30:00 PST