If you have ever seen Mike Waterson do "Tam Lyn" then you have seen a master ballad singer in action. I have seen him do this a couple of times and both times there was stunned silence at the end. The man was magic.

Take a listen to Brian Peters and if you get chance to so his show do go. His version of "Six Nights Drunk" takes some beating.

http://www.harbourtownrecords.com/petersballadslive.htm

And just thinking of Ray Fisher singing "Binnorie" at Whitby last summer brings tears to my eyes.