The Calabash International Literary Festival this weekend, today to Sunday, in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, will share its stage with music, as the opening night features Protoje in concert.

Scheduled to start at 11:30 pm, Protoje will headline Friday night’s concert, which features opening act Sevanna. On Saturday, DJs Bambino and Sparks will host a late-night bonfire beach party. Sunday will see the festival closing with an afternoon performance by the Calabash Acoustic Ensemble comprised of Wayne Armond, Ibo Cooper, and Steve Golding.

“Music has been a part of Calabash since 2001,” Justine Henzell, co-founder/organiser — Calabash International Literary Festival, told Splash.

“We all consider ourselves children of the 70s, and our writing styles have been impacted by the cadence of reggae music,” she continued.

She also hit on another significant truth, that many of Jamaica’s greatest lyricists can easily count themselves as writers of note.

“Having music as part of Calabash is a great way to acknowledge the contribution to the literary arts by our songwriters,” she said.

This blend will be best seen on Sunday’s finale, as the Calabash Acoustic Ensemble, in keeping with the Fruu-ish-aan theme for this year’s event, will be tackling reggae songs that feature food in them.

— Rory Daley