CLEWISTON – Clewiston Sugar Festival organizers have good news and bad news for festival fans.

Due to an unforeseen conflict, the Marshall Tucker Band will not be able to perform at the 2023 Sugar Festival as originally scheduled. However, the Sugar Festival Committee quickly got to work and secured the top-selling rock band from the 1970s, Grand Funk Railroad.

In addition, country singer Ashland Craft has joined the lineup.

As previously announced, Lee Brice will headline the festival. Ian Munsick is also scheduled to perform.

The festival is multi-day event, beginning with sports tournaments and a Miss Sugar Pageant and a Friday Night Kickoff concert with food trucks on festival weekend.

On Saturday, March 18, the main festival day, attendees can enjoy free live music concerts, an antique tractor display, a car show, a free kids play park, visit a local baking contest and a professional baking display, plus enjoy the offerings of various food and crafts vendors present.

The festival will be held in Civic Park,  162 Royal Palm Avenue in Clewiston.  Admission is free.

Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band formed in 1968 in Flint, Michigan by Mark Farner (vocals, guitar), Don Brewer (drums, vocals), and Mel Schacher (bass). During the 1970s, their hits included “We’re an American Band,” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” and “Walk Like a Man.” The group disbanded in 1976. The original trio reunited at various times in the 1980s and 1990s. Following Farmer’s departure from the group in 1997, Brewer and Schacher have continued touring as Grand Funk Railroad. Current band members include Brewer, Schacher, Max Carl (lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar), Bruce Kulick (keyboards and backing vocals) and Tim Cashion (keyboards and backing vocals.)

Ashland Craft, 26, is a Nashville-based country singer. She was a contestant on season 13 of “The Voice.” Her debut album, “Travelin’ Kind,” was produced by Big Loud Records.

Singer and songwriter Lee Brice, 49, has released five albums with the Curb Records label: Love Like Crazy, Hard to Love, I Don’t Dance, Lee Brice, and Hey World. Eight of his singles have reached the number one on Billboard Country Airplay: “A Woman Like You,” “Hard to Love,” “I Drive Your Truck,” “I Don’t Dance,” “Rumor,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” “One of Them Girls,” and “Memory I Don’t Mess With.”

His ”Love Like Crazy,” was named the top country son of 2010 according to Billboard Year End.

Ian Munsick, 29, is a Wyoming-born singer/songwriter who grew up working the ranch and working crowds. Under the tutelage of their fiddle-playing father, Munsick and his two older brothers grew up playing everything from bluegrass to the Beatles. Incorporating elements across genres, he  began to establish himself.

His debut album, Coyote Cry, features his high tenor underscoring self-penned songs that conjure epic adventure and down-to-earth wisdom.

For more information online, go to Clewistonsguarfestival.com