Penticton’s Dane Bateman Delivers Honest, Heartfelt Country With New Single, “Whiskey Promises”
Penticton, BC’s country up-and-comer Dane Bateman is raising a glass — and the bar — with the release of his new single, “Whiskey Promises,” out now on all streaming platforms. Featuring his breakout title track and a collection of songs that channel the grit of Texas red dirt and the heart of ’90s country, “Whiskey Promises” cements Bateman as one of the genre’s rising voices to watch.
“Now that it’s morning, I forget what we said,” Bateman sings on the anthemic title track. “Did we make up, or was it all in my head?” With lyrics soaked in memory and hundred-proof regret, “Whiskey Promises” is a relatable, hook-filled anthem that captures a universal moment: waking up unsure if the words said the night before were real or just soaked in bourbon.
In Dane’s own words:
“When people hear ‘Whiskey Promises,’ I want them to feel like they’re walking down Broadway in Nashville. That was one of the coolest experiences of my life, and I really tried to capture that energy and unpredictability.”
Originally from the small mountain town of Nakusp, BC, and now based in Penticton, Bateman’s roots run deep — in small-town living, bonfire jam sessions, and long road trips chasing live music. His sound bridges generations: a modern country edge inspired by artists like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and Koe Wetzel, layered over storytelling traditions passed down from legends like Garth Brooks and Waylon Jennings.
Dane has already carved out an impressive path on the live circuit, sharing stages with Canadian country royalty including Dallas Smith, Dean Brody, The Reklaws, Meghan Patrick, and The Road Hammers. And it’s paying off — Dane is currently sitting at over 23,500 streams on Spotify, a number that’s growing by the day and was just named 93.7 JR Country radio’s “One To Watch” for the month of May.
Bateman credits a lot of his musical inspiration to the time he spent in Nashville, especially during the writing and recording of “Whiskey Promises.”
“I was in a studio with three other writers, and when Brandon Samsons started playing guitar and the title ‘Whiskey Promises’ came up, we just ran with it. It wasn’t written from one specific experience, but I think almost everyone’s had a night like that — one drink too many, one truth too blurred.”
That honesty and edge show up throughout the album. Produced in part by collaborators who shared Bateman’s vision of something “edgier, sort of rock and roll, red dirt Texas style,” the album features bold instrumentation, including what Bateman calls one of the coolest elements: an aggressive kick drum that “isn’t used enough in Canadian country.”
Thematically, “Whiskey Promises” explores the highs and lows of love, life on the road, and growing up blue-collar in a tight-knit, rough-around-the-edges world. “I like to write music that makes people want to have a good time,” he says. “It’s for small towners, oil riggers, weekend warriors — people like me who grew up with guitars by the fire, beer in hand.”
Before music took center stage, Dane played junior hockey across Canada and worked on oil rigs in the north. In true country fashion, he eventually packed up his truck and drove through 32 states in 58 days, a road trip that would deepen his love for country music and, eventually, inspire the journey toward his first record.
With a growing social media presence and live shows that are turning heads, Dane Bateman is poised to bring “Whiskey Promises” to stages across the country.