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Juggalos step up their infomercial game

The annual Gathering of the Juggalos is coming to Illinois Aug. 7-11.

 

Audra Schroeder

Fandom

Posted on Jul 18, 2013   Updated on Jun 1, 2021, 11:09 am CDT

Say what you will about Insane Clown Posse. The dedication of their fans, known as Juggalos, has made them possibly the modern equivalent of the Grateful Dead, in that they will follow the group wherever they play, purchase whatever they put out. If you are someone who’s been following the evolution of the Juggalo, or possibly accidentally dated one in the late ’90s (cough, sniff), then you know the Juggalo “uniform” has stayed roughly the same since then. They’ve been parodied and thoughtfully profiled, and the subculture has somehow evolved

Of course, any talk of progressive cultural significance disappears when you watch the yearly promo commercial for the Gathering of the Juggalos. This year, for the Aug. 7-11 gathering preview, they’ve taken a different approach from the rapid-fire spray of performers and special guests. Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J play anchors on Hatchet Action News, and announce that Blowfly and Vanilla Ice will be main stage performers. Lesser-known acts include Swollen Members and Kung-Fu Vampire. As usual, there aren’t many female performers. 

The ticker running along the bottom of the video offers other festival amenities, like Dark Carnival tarot readings, airbrush face painting, Faygo launching contest, trailer showers, seminars, and “4 love trains.” If you tune into Psychopathicradio.com that weekend, you can livestream from the comfort of your home—face paint optional. 

Screenshot via PsychopathicVideo/YouTube 

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*First Published: Jul 18, 2013, 8:01 am CDT