John Lennon, undoubtedly one of the most iconic and successful musicians of all time, once famously begged the world to “give peace a chance.” Fifty years on, his heartfelt plea still rings true. The world remains a divisive, violent place, and prioritising community and togetherness is more urgent than ever.

This is clearly the mindset of the five Australian singer-songwriters who have come together to pay tribute to the Lennon-penned songs that defined a generation.

With Give Peace A Chance: The Words and Music of John Lennon in Concert, prominent musicians Adalita, Diesel, Steve Kilbey, Isabella Manfredi, and Kevin Mitchell, backed by an all-star band lead by Ashley Naylor, will be performing across Australian’s most prestigious venues, including the Sydney Opera House.

Each of these artists feels passionately about the late Beatle and his virtuosic musicianship and poignant sentiments, and each has a special favourite of Lennon’s songs that they hold close.

“I go through stages with different songs, but ‘Across the Universe’ has endured for me. I find it incredibly moving.  It's emotional on a spiritual level and makes me contemplative about being one of billions of tiny little souls in the world, alone and just floating through time and space,” says Kevin Mitchell.

Steve Kilbey says, “My fave Lennon song is ‘Strawberry Fields Forever.’ An absolute breakthrough for pop music becoming real art. The lyrics, the instrumentation, the arrangement…a 45 that changed the whole damn game forever lifting the bar of what modern music could achieve.”

“My favourite John Lennon song would be between ‘Mind Games’ and ‘Jealous Guy.’ They both have a haunting quality which I love, and the chorus of each is absolutely killer. He was such an incredible songwriter, and these two songs showcase that perfectly. These songs were my introduction to John Lennon, even before ‘Imagine,’” adds Adalita.

Diesel says, “My favourite John Lennon song is ‘Love.’ Its understated soundscape and arrangement sound sketch-like to me, and it surprises me still. Trying to distil what the human condition of love is into so few words, he achieved with minimal master strokes, hanging words with brevity, that marry to a melody that reaches and yearns.”

Isabella Manfredi says, “My favourite John song is ‘Julia,’ off the White Album. He wrote it about his mum, and I've always found it immediately transportative. The song sounds like being inside a memory that never existed; it's mournful and otherworldly. It makes me feel so many things at once, like a puzzle and a hymn.

“I remember hearing back the demo recordings from the original White Album Sessions when John had just brought the song in and was workshopping it alone with their producer George Martin, who ended up punching in all the lines and splicing them together so the lyrics could fold over themselves. It was comforting to hear John struggling with the song and sounding, at some points, pretty rubbish. It's a good reminder that even for a Beatle, the line between average and greatness is sometimes paper thin.”

Lennon’s influence and hold on the culture - both as a member of The Beatles and as a solo artist - has been undeniable.

The intention of this tribute show is to “make a statement, one that acknowledges the urgency of change while celebrating the powerful legacy of Lennon’s message of peace and hope.”

Tickets are available now via the Give Peace A Chance website.

The concert dates and locations are as follows:

Thursday, 3 July 2025 - Concert Hall, QPAC Brisbane QLD

Saturday, 5 July 2025 - Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall, Melbourne VIC

Sunday, 6 July 2025 - Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Sydney NSW

Saturday, 12 July 2025 - Festival Theatre, Adelaide SA

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