As has been said, it all depends on why you need them and what you mean by being a folk singer. The same question could apply to tunes and instrumental pieces, of course. If you wish to be a regular club performer, then you need a repertoire that will last approx two 45min spots or, perhaps, an a single one hour spot. Of course, if you only intend to do short spots or even just attend singarounds, then the quantity is less important. However, you probably need a few extra so as your repertoire doesn't become repetitive or stale and it's always a good idea to keep adding new material from time to time. I think another issue is the ability to have enough tunes and songs "on the burner" at any one time which have been honed to a reasonable standard. This is an extra skill which not everyone has, I'd imagine, as I've never tried to be a full time or professional musician, that it takes a lot of dedication and work. I know several tunes but those I retain at any one time at a reasonable standard usuallly remains fairly constant although they do come back to me when required. I guess that's why "set lists" are so important for many musicians too.
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