By Dave OBrien
Record-Courier staff writer
NELSON Rap group Insane Clown Posse, which has been described as both the worst and most hated band in the world by its critics, will return to Nelson Ledges Quarry Park July 21 through 25 for the Sixth Annual Gathering of the Juggalos, the third year in a row the festival has been held in Portage County.
And once again, ICP will be accompanied by the rest of the Detroit-based Psychopathic Records lineup and perhaps as many as 10,000 Juggalos fans of the label and its artists for whom the Gathering has become an annual ritual.
Concertgoers will pay $ per person for a weekend pass to enter the park, located on S.R. 282 in Nelson Township. The 600 campsites at the park rented to Juggalos for the weekends events went on sale March 11 and are officially sold out at this time, according to JuggaloGathering.com, the events official Web site.
This year, to help local authorities handle the problem of pedestrian traffic on S.R. 282 and township roads, Psychopathic is working with a local landowner to allow free event parking at Nelson Ledges Archery.
Attorney Marc Beginin of Detroit, who represents Psychopathic Records, said the changes have been made because the shuttle buses hired to take Juggalos to the event last year were cumbersome, and incurred liability for the record label.
Were renting the land for a Juggalo Archery Tournament, and there happens to be parking ancillary to that, Beginin said. People will park there and walk across the street, which should make (Portage County Sheriff Duane Kaley) happy, and make everyone safer.
Beginin said extra security and lighting will be made available at the parking area for safety purposes. The record label also is taking a hard line on littering and vandalism at this years Gathering: Any Juggalos who litter their campsites or vandalize property will be thrown out of the event and banned from all future Gatherings, according to the Gathering Web site.
Though he has had no formal discussions with Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci, Beginin said he sent a letter to the prosecutors office, and he looks forward to meeting with Vigluicci and Kaley to facilitate the safe and efficient execution of the event.
Vigluicci said he did not respond to Beginins letter, adding Psychopathic Records wont get my blessing (to have the Gathering in Portage County) if thats what theyre looking for.
Id prefer they go somewhere else, Vigluicci said, pointing to what he called rampant drug use inside the event as the reason.
ICPs most recently release, Hells Pit, debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard Top in late 4. Other acts on the label include the rap duo Twiztid, Blaze, ABK, Esham, and Dark Lotus, all of which are set to perform at the Gathering.
More acts scheduled for this years Gathering will be announced in the near future. In 4, Cleveland rappers Bone Thugs N Harmony played a surprise set on the first night of the Gathering.
The record label is once again planning to make a donation to a local charity before arriving in town. Both Happy Day School in Franklin Township and the International Rett Syndrome Association have received donations in past years.
E-mail: dobrien@recordpub.com
Phone: (330) 296-9657