Thursday, September 19 • Patrick Ball. 8 p.m., Café Paradiso, 101 N. Main St., Fairfield. (641) 472-0856. CafeParadiso.net.

On Thursday, September 19th at 8pm, the world-renowned Irish harper and storyteller, Patrick Ball, will weave his spell at Café Paradiso. If you haven’t heard the rare ancient Irish brass-strung harp, you’ll be transfixed by its exquisitely rich, crystalline, bell-like tone. If you have heard it, the chances are you’ve heard Patrick, as his many award-winning albums have sold over half a million copies internationally. He is also the premier ambassador for the seanachie tradition of Irish storytelling, and aptly so, as his wit is sharp enough to cut yourself on without noticing.

Along with Celtic Harp and Story, his beguiling blend of music and spoken word concerts, Patrick has written and currently performs two highly acclaimed solo musical theater pieces: O’Carolan’s Farewell to Music, which brings to life, the turbulent times and glorious music of the legendary Irish harper and composer, Turlough O’Carolan, and The Fine Beauty of the Island, a musical journey to the remote windswept Blasket Islands off the West coast of Kerry in search of a haunting tune and the vanished islanders who played it. Patrick also presents an ensemble performance, The Flame of Love, a spoken word and Early Music retelling of the greatest of medieval legends, The Romance of Tristan and Iseult.

The concert will begin at 8pm. Tickets are $12 in advance (cafeparadiso.net or at Paradiso), $15 at the show. Check out his website at www.patrickball.com.