Performance conventions differ; there are singers who'll use a ballad as a vehicle for quite stunning theatricality, whilst there are those who might lay back and trust in the ballad to tell itself. As a very physical storyteller myself, I must admit I tend to adopt the latter approach when it comes to ballad singing, which is I feel the most appropriate in terms of traditional performance. It's all a matter of personal taste, but I always urge people to go to the source of thing, storytellers included, without getting too dazzled by the conventions of revival performance which I personally find a little off-putting. Each to their own though; it's enough for me that people are singing ballads, be they folkies, traddies, Goths, Pagans, neo-folkies, or whatever.

Didn't make it to Durham this year, but it's good to hear it was attended. I will be at Fylde, as I say, doing various sets of songs, ballads & stories, and it would be nice to have a natter & a sing with other ballad singers - even if it's a nice a nice fresco ballad walk on the beach under a beautiful sunset - weather permitting of course...

As I say, PM me if you fancy it.