Hi,
oh this is such a useful thread as I am in the same situation with looking for a few backing tracks for Marlene Dietrich songs for an after hours "joke" performance at a WWII reenactment event.

There have been a few remarks about, "folk karaoke", on the lines that it is a total Nono, and the advice to do it a capella or learn to play an instrument or get a band. Good idea but not always practical.

Hey, I did not realize that folk was about always doing it the hard way.

I can see lots of reasons why someone wants backing tracks for singing folk songs to, and most of them do not involve the threat of putting live musicians out of business.

Such as: You are doing a one-off and our audience is not really the folky sort and will not be able to appreciate your efforts and skill unless you "flesh it out" because they are used to canned music; and a capella - however well performed - will sound gaunt and bare to those untrained ears.

Such as: You do play in a band, but they cannot be with you on certain occasions

Such us: Folk is uncool for the kids but karaoke is cool and you have to catch them and corrupt them when they are young. The sooner they know that your true loves hair is supposed to be black and not blonde, the better.

Such as: You are doing a very amateur performance for a bunch of friends and not being the worlds most charismatic performer the support of a backing track will make it bearable.

Such as: You are a good singer, you do not have a band (with you), and you simply haven't got the time to learn a new instrument well enough till next week for your buddies birthday.

Such as: You have a really good voice but you find strings and buttons simply are not your friend.

Such as: You play the flute and the harp really well. You sing well too, but you are crossing over genres and
you cannot accompany yourself on the flute while singing Lili Marleen and
Singing Lili Marleen in fishnet tights and a corset just don't look so well when sitting on a milking stool with a medieval harp between your knees.

Cheers,
Ana