Wala Wala Officially Halts Its Live Gig Chapter By Shutting Its Famed Second Storey

The second level of Wala Wala takes a bow after 29 years (Credit: Wala Wala, taken before the pandemic)

The wrath of the pandemic is remorseless, and even the mighty are taking the fall. Esteemed live house, Wala Wala Cafe Bar, is the latest big player to slip into the quicksand. It’s tragically announced that it’s had to shut operations on level two which was known for its band-fronted bedlam of weekly gigs. While the long-awaited return of “soft music” to f&b establishments recently hit the headlines, the ban on live music and performances – which was the norm for Wala Wala – remains in place. This makes it crippling and unsustainable for an institution like Wala Wala, which has been a fixture of the industry since 1993, resulting in agonising developments like this.

Operations will resume on level one of Wala Wala (Credit: Wala Wala, taken before the pandemic)

“Wala Wala’s history of 29 years has no indemnity against the huge jaws of COVID-19,” they announced in a Facebook post. “Well overall, it has been a fantastic roller coaster ride and we want to thank everyone for being a part of our journey. We especially want to thank Toni Go for Wala Wala’s live music. It was 20 years ago that Toni started performing at Wala Wala and he also arranged all the other musicians to perform. We also want to thank all the musicians and sound engineers that have graced our stage. Last but not least, we have to thank our friends who have enjoyed the Wala experience. It does feel like a part of Wala has died, but Wala Wala will still be at the corner in Holland Village but just on level one.”

Arguably the heartbeat of Holland Village, Wala Wala has had a track record of serving brews and grub while hosting sports events (unfortunately, this is still banned) on level one. The entertainment would commence upstairs as the night rolled on, where audiences were treated to diverse, rollicking performances ranging from classic rock and soul to Top 40s anthems. Many bands – who have since become household names – helmed stellar residencies at the storied live house, including Jack and Rai, Tabula, Reverie, 53A and Shirlyn + The UnXpected.

Wala Wala has always been a champion of the local music scene. Recently, it even collaborated with The Star Performing Arts Centre to launch the Star Wala Series, a ticketed concert series that helped support veteran bands and revive the gig-scape by providing a rare avenue to catch live music again. Live music, till this day, is still only confined to dedicated performance venues.

Wala Wala also announced that it’s currently searching for a new tenant to take over the premises upstairs and keep the music going when the pandemic subsides. But the future of this, like the fate of the music industry, is uncertain.

Wala Wala Cafe Bar, 31 Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277689, +65 6462 4288.