By William Farrington - Caribbean Life
Many steel bands scrambled to find outdoor rehearsal space, particularly in the Flatbush / Crown Heights neighborhoods to prepare for Panorma on Sept. 5 at the Brooklyn Museum.
CASYM, Metro Steel, Cossfire Steel Orchestra, Steel XPlosion, Harmony Music Makers, Despers USA, and Pantonic all have moved from the 2014 locations.
Recently CASYM began setting up their instruments in their new home, 8014 Preston Court between Ralph and E 83rd Street. (A seven- story, 80 unit residential complex is under construction at the Lenox Road location of CASYM’s 2014 camp.) Radoes camp is across the street and Crossfire found an adjoining lot in this industrial section of Canarsie adjacent to the Brooklyn Terminal Market. Pantonic Steel Orchestra, moved into a space on E 48th Street and Farragut, the dead end side, and held its yard opening Friday, Aug. 21 followed by a band launch Saturday. Bandleader Gwynn Glasgow says, “Its all been so rushed this year, only two weekends till Panorama.” Until recently, Pantonic was practicing at a Canarsie storage facility where they kept their instruments. Their space on Erasmus Street was no longer available. The band will compete with 60 - 80 youths ages 8 to 21.
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