My 1st post to Dirty Feline, so forgive any newbie inattention to previous sutras or other vines. Loreena McKennitt was mentioned, but specifically, "The Visit" CD, '91 & '94 from Quinlan Road Limited label features a # of quite beautiful trad ballads (as opposed to bad trallads) such as "Lady of Shallott" & "Greensleeves". See also the recordings of John Renbourn, who is a guitarist of renown, but his ballad repetoire is impeccable. I had the good fortune to see him on tour with Robin Williamson (formerly of the Incredible String Band, who I suspect of copping balladry from sources as diverse as Wm. Blake & Lewey Carroll; now performing as a solo storyteller / songsmith / schausspeiler of sorts) a few years back at SUNY New Paltz (in the Hudson Valley) and found them both to be in top form. I would also like to recommend the late great Canadian folksinger Stan Rogers (you may also have heard of younger brother Garnet Rogers) whose '77 release "Fogarty's Cove" has only one "pd" song on it, but any number of songs so good that I'd pony up a wager on these becoming a branch of the "tree-dition".
Then, what of John Fahey,Doc Boggs, Hazel Dickins, Suzanne Thomas, The Blue Sky Boys, and all the other blue & grassy field hands?
Thanks for the forum.