Possibly the only drawback to traveling all over the country, playing the Celtic harp, is having to lug the harp around.

“The harp is four and a half feet tall. It isn’t too heavy, but the fiberglass flight case is incredibly awkward to carry,” said Patrick Ball, Sebastopol musician and storyteller.

When he performed in Hawaii, he couldn’t lock the harp in a car because of the possible heat damage. When he played a small town in Alaska, accessible only by boat,  he emerged after a show to find the tide had gone out. And he a long, long way to carry his harp.

Still, he can’t complain. The harp’s been good to him, allowing him to work steadily and build a nationwide following. Every now and then, he performs somewhere closer to home.

Patrick Ball and the Medieval Beasts, featuring harpist/singers/instrumentalists Shira Kammen and Tim Rayborn, will perform “The Flame of Love — The Legend of Tristan and Iseult,” at 8 p.m. Friday, July 20, at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 1100 Las Gallinas Ave., San Rafael.

Admission: $15.

Information: (415) 479-1334.