If you know your peice then you are free to bring expression and emotion to your performance and the only barrier then is ones ability to communicate and a lack of technique.

I would have been less impressed if Pete Seeger et al had sung from a crib sheet.

Folk performers are more akin to opera and theatre, you dont expect them to be reading their lines.

All too often those who dont know the words are impatient to perform their song and as a consequence it comes under prepared, it wont have matured.

So there.

Looking forward to you visit to St Albans Johnny