Musicians and music lovers alike will be jumping into bed with peaceniks and the public as part of the Embedding Peace project, which will feature a recreation of the renowned 1969 “Bed-In” where John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded “Give Peace a Chance”.

The Embedding Peace Project aims to encourage festival goers to experience the “Bed-In” through multimedia displays, historical exhibits - including one of John Lennons iconic jumpsuits, and by spreading their own messages of peace, by sharing images of themselves amid the iconic Bedroom setting. 

In addition to sharing a global message of Peace, the interactive exhibit is a tribute to Brisbane’s own late, great rock writer and peace activist Ritchie Yorke, who was integral in organising the original Montreal Bed-In. Ritchie believed that “Music is an instrument of social change” and the Embedding Peace Project aims to inspire a new generation of music lovers to get involved. Yoko Ono has recently expressed her appreciation for the project, saying “I am pleased that Ritchie’s legacy is being used to further promote peace.”

Yorke’s wife, Minnie, noted: “2019 will be the 50th anniversary of the War Is Over! campaign, a global tour that followed the Bed-In and took the Lennon’s call for peace to the world. With so much conflict in the world right now its more important than ever, for all of us to voice our desire for peace. We’re honoured to have the support of BIGSOUND and so many musicians in helping us embed this message in the social consciousness, as we promote a new worldwide call for Peace.” 

The Embedding Peace Exhibition is being presented by The Ritchie Yorke Project, celebrates the undeniable mark Ritchie made on the world of popular music through his role as a syndicated reviewer, interviewer, broadcaster, critic, author and peace ambassador. In addition to his friendship with John and Yoko Lennon, Ritchie was also the first journalist  to champion Led Zeppelin developing a life long bond with the band, a celebrated Hero of the Canadian music industry having been one of the architects of CanCon, and a champion of countless breakout musicians from Australia, Canada and the world.

Ritchie promoted events like the Bed-In and the Toronto Peace Festival, wrote liner notes for some of the biggest and most recognisable artists of the time and wrote for many of the major music publications in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. He has also written books on; Lennon and the peace campaign, Led Zeppelin’s meteoric rise, Van Morrison’s sheltered private life, and the Canadian Maple Music Junket, of which he was a proud advocate.

Catch the Embedding Peace Project at the Judith Wright Centre in Fortitude Valley during #BIGSOUND17