Hello Crow Sister.
I'm probably one of those that you think would be having a go at you.
Well I'm not.
Firstly, your quite right. The lid is off the Pandoras box that is the www. No amount of bickering will put it back on.
Using the web as a research tool, is one of it's main reasons for it existing. And I'm pleased that you've come across some songs that you want to try and perform.
And it's great that you go to gigs/festivals whenever you can afford to. And that's the point. You wouldn't expect to go to Glasto/Towersey wherever without buying a ticket, would you? After all without ticket sales, there would be no gigs.

As has been said many times, the odd sharing of music with friends, etc, is not a problem. Hell, I've just posted a couple of my tunes on a certain specialist website, mainly to find out what other people think of them. Yes they are demos, and I probably wouldn't want them to appear on some download site. but, It was my choice to put them there..(See if you can find them!)

This thread is about unauthorised Uploads of entire CDs, which, if popular enough could be downloaded by literally the whole world.

Unlike other posters here, you will understand that there is very little money in the Folk scene. CD sales (mainly at gigs, not through distributors) can make a real financial difference as to whether your favourite artist who you were looking forward to seeing live this summer somewhere, will still be performing, or will have given up through lack of income. I'm reminded of an Ex Poster here. Fine Singer and instrumentalist (I won't name him) Who after many years performing. Gave up last year. He just couldn't afford to keep going. What part downloading had in his decision I know not. But every CD sale lost could have pushed him further into making that decision.

So, the consequences of Wholesale bootlegging could be no gigs to go to. Yes an extreme case I know, but you see the logic I hope?
Enjoy your singing, I hope you find that one song that really moves you, and if you know it's source, and the person is still alive...buy him a drink as a thank you.