"Your woman 'performs' the song - folk songs demand interpretation by their very existence".   She is unfortunately not "my woman" and her name is Marie Campbell she has been singing traditional songs for years and probably knows as much about the tradition as you do.
You say that folk songs require interpretation, well Marie puts her own interpretation on "The Lea Rig" and has done so with quite a few Burns songs in the last few years.....In my opinion her interpretation enhances the song, but I will admit that not everyone could pull it off.
If folk is to survive in mainstream music, it must adapt to change in society.