The Wind That Shakes The Barley Yellow LP

Loreena McKennitt is set to release her 2010 album The Wind That Shakes The Barley for the first time on coloured vinyl on October 7th 2022. The first vinyl edition of these recordings was released in a 5000 copy, 180g black vinyl limited edition pressing in 2010 which has long since sold out.

This new pressing is available in a 140g transparent yellow edition housed in the original artwork. McKennitt has, over more than two decades, explored many aspects of the Celtic music she’s always loved. In 2010 she revisited her earliest inspirations, traditional Irish and Scottish music, to create a new album and a return to the simple, age-old music with which the singer began her career with her 1985 debut recording, Elemental.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley includes familiar traditional classics such as Down by the Sally Gardens, The Star of the County Down and The Parting Glass. These are mixed with lesser-known traditional songs, including Daithi Sproule's The Death of Queen Jane and As I Roved Out.

“I was inspired and encouraged by many of my friends and fans who asked that I record traditional material once again. It has been like ‘touching the stone’ going back to the roots of my initial deep affection for Celtic music. ”The Wind that Shakes the Barley was recorded during the summer of 2010 at Sharon Temple, a handcrafted wooden building heritage site north of Toronto accompanied by long-time musical companions violinist Hugh Marsh, cellist Caroline Lavelle, guitarist Brian Hughes and hurdy-gurdy player Ben Grossman who are joined by a cast of other accomplished players.

Grammy-nominee and Juno winner McKennitt built her international reputation, with some 14 million records sold around the world, by exploring the rich history of the Celts and exploring their roots in the Middle East and even further afield. “Every once in a while there’s a pull to return to your own beginnings,” McKennitt explains. “With the perspective of time and experience one can again feel familiar things you once loved, and love still.And I must say it feels wonderful to return to my musical roots.”