Bill Dewey will perform Saturday at Bobee Jo's in Austin.

A longtime performer is going to walk the line right into Austin this Saturday, where he’ll showcase his Johnny Cash skills.

Bill Dewey — who has been performing Johnny Cash music for 27 years and enjoying it even longer — will hit the stage at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Bobee Jo’s on 10th Street NE. The show is free, and before Dewey performs, spectators will get a chance at 5:30 p.m. to meet the Iowa native who has made a living by honoring the singer/songwriter widely considered one of the best performers of all time.

“[Dewey’s] got that haunted, broken kind of spiritual voice, deep, like Johnny Cash had,” said Denny Charnecki, local musician who has performed with Dewey on occasion since 1989.

Charnecki highlighted Dewey’s success and authenticity, and even that Dewey was asked to join the re-recording of the Folsom Prison album.

“That was back in ’08,” Dewey said, who also recalled how the entire project was going to commence on the same day, time and place at Folsom Prison, until state corrections officials pulled the plug on the entire work.

“All of the sudden, within five seconds — the time it takes to make a phone call — Folsom called and said, ‘It’s off.’”

Regardless, Dewey still dedicates his time and efforts to Johnny Cash — hands-down his favorite performer.

“I’ve just always loved Johnny Cash,” Dewey said.

Though Dewey no longer frequents the Iowa-southern Minnesota area, he is expected to return on Thursday, July 19, for a full Johnny Cash performance at the Paramount Theatre, as well.