Bryan Dale Headley - " The Singin' Blacksmith "

When performing my blacksmithing show, my audience will come away with a basic knowledge of the tools of the blacksmith as well as an understanding of basic forging of iron. The whole process is explained as well as each step demonstrated in a simple and educational manner.
When performing as a singer/songwriter, I play many cover songs in addition to my own original material. Some songs are funny, some are sad and I end each of my shows with a special recognition of our service people and our Veterans and finish with my song " The Veteran ".
When performing as Durn Near't Willie, I wear a pair of Willie braids and play many of Willie's iconic hits on my guitar Dixie. I have been told by so many folks that I am the closest sounding Willie singer they have ever heard and that I sound just like Willie.

Bryan the blacksmith - I have been blacksmithing since August of 2001 and have been performing professional demonstrations for festivals, re-enactments, fairs and schools. I have performed for numerous small festivals, Rockome Gardens, Vincennes Rendezvous, fine art fairs, the Illinois Sate Fair and had a TV show on RFD-TV from (phone number hidden)0. These days, my blacksmithing show is geared towards educating our youth. I bring all my equipment to your location and set up shop and talk about the many tools I have on display. I then discuss how they are used and have some pieces I have made on display and answer questions that are asked. I talk about the days of the old time blacksmith and get the kids involved by having them think of things that a blacksmith would have made. At the end, I have a piece of steel and put it in the fire and get it hot - discussing exactly what is happening to the steel. I then bring it out of the fire and shape it into a small horseshoe. Lastly, I ask a question about a tool or something we discussed during the demo and the child who answers the question correctly gets to keep the horseshoe! It's a very effective learning event.
Bryan the singer/songwriter - I have been playing guitar for about 10 years and songwriting for about 7 years and am in the country music genre. My shows consist of many cover songs from Cash, Haggard, Jennings and Jones and others. I also mix in some of my own original songs and end each show with a tribute to our nations Veterans. I have put out one cd titled " This Ol' Barn " which contains three songs that have received radio airplay - " Deer Season ", " This Ol' Barn " and " The Veteran ". This show generally opens for my other character - Durn Near't Willie.
Bryan and Durn Near't Willie - I seen Willie Nelson live many years ago and decided I was going to learn to play a guitar. The first song I wanted to learn was Blue Eyes Cryin In The Rain so took a few lessons. After a few lessons, I quit and just started playing and learning on my own. After several years I was good enough to play for friends around the campfire and I did every chance I got. Everybody wanted me to " do some more Willie " so I learned all the Willie songs I could and people just loved it. So what started out as a funny joke around the campfire has grown into a business. I do many of his classics and the Willie part of the show is around an hour long.