I don't see any problem with downloads of albums that are long out of print, sometimes by musicians who are long gone

Perhaps, in a very limited number of cases, but so many very different circumstances are represented in this discussion. The family of Tony Rose, for example, would definitely not agree. Indeed, before his untimely death he re-recorded a set of his favourite songs to try and compensate for the loss of income from his "Harrogated" Trailers. In the case of Nic Jones, he wasn't even able to do that and so good friends set to work to make compilations of live recordings and outtakes. Lal & Mike Waterson's Bright Phoebus was re-recorded by others to keep that marvellous songwriting out there.

It is undoubtedly true that traditional musicians have been cheated and ripped off in the past. This is inexcusable but it's not the same thing as professional performers today being deprived of a livelihood. The first is purely a moral issue, the second has legal implications even if Celtic manages to skate just within the law.

If you look at a dodgy site (like THTM) on a daily basis (I don't, though I look often enough), you'll see disputed uploads going up and down like the proverbial tart's drawers, and links are more and more cunningly concealed. That's because, as I said before, they get complained about by the actual living artists, zapped and re-uploaded by uncaring tea-leaves who just don't get it that they're stealing and causing untold distress.

As for those who cover original, in-copyright work by living artists (Dylan and Richard Thompson have been cited), the answer lies with the venue management who ought to be ensuring that PRS returns are properly completed so that dues are properly re-distributed.