Patrick Ball: Bard Extraordinaire

A few years ago, my husband and I sat captivated during a performance by a gentleman who, from all appearances, had been transported to our century from some ancient, distant land. Through the simplicity of story, song, and harp, I soon felt myself sitting not in a plush seat in Sandpoint's venerable Panida Theater, but on a mossy stump in a mythical incarnation of of Sherwood Forest, enchanted as a true bard wove his literary and musical spell around me.

What is a bard? Shakespeare is often called a bard, even "the" Bard. Wondering if bard it is just another word for poet, I grabbed my trusty Webster's and read that a bard is "a tribal poet-singer skilled in composing and reciting verses on heroes and their deeds" or "a composer, singer, or declaimer of epic or heroic verse."

In other words, a bard is a poet on steroids. The world needs more bards.

That definition fits performance artist Patrick Ball who, to my great delight, will be making a return engagement at the Panida tomorrow evening, November 16, at 8 p.m. The Bonner County Daily Bee describes it thusly: "In playing the ancient, legendary brass-strung harp of Ireland with its crystalline, bell-like voice, and in performing marvelous tales of wit and enchantment, [Ball] not only brings new life to two cherished traditions, but blends them in concert to create a richly theatrical and hauntingly beautiful performance."


Following in the tradition of the wandering harpists and balladeers of Ireland, Ball tours extensively and has recorded nine instrumental and three spoken word albums, many of which have won awards in both the music and spoken-word categories. 


Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, and are available at Eve's Leaves and Eichardt's as well as the theater. For more information, visit the Panida website.