Blu Jaz Café Is Facing a License Shutdown
We’ve all seen that 11 Bali Lane, once the heartbeat of Kampong Glam’s live‑music scene. The iconic spot, home to jukebox nights, stand‑up comics, and the occasional slam‑poetry showdown, received a hard‑line notice from the police last week: the Public Entertainment Licence is being cancelled from Oct 22. No more live shows, no more foot‑steps of the local legend’s audience.
How the Collapse Began
- On Aug 31, director Aileen Tan (56) learned the police were leaning toward stripping the licence.
- The cafe had built up a 24‑point record (exceeding the two‑year limit) due to repeated overcrowding incidents.
- With a 1,600‑sq‑ft floor, the venue was officially capped at 43 people (including an average weekend crew of 20). Add to that a band crew of 5–8, and you’ve got a logistical nightmare.
- Last Monday, the appeal was rejected — the police say the café’s “poor track record of compliance.”
What This Means for a Live‑Performance Paradise
The blaze‑hot venues of Singapore now face the fact that Blu Jaz Café will operate like a ghost shop: no gigs, no standing‑room enthusiasm, and a business model on shaky ground. Aileen has already tipped all scheduled acts who’ll need to scramble for gigs elsewhere — a situation why most sign up for an impromptu “open‑mic” at the club to cause a ripple of fury.
Community Heart‑Beat
We’ve had enough of “one‑last‑chance” venues turning into legal shadows. The One Kampong Gelam neighbourhood association wrote a heartfelt appeal on Friday, calling the authorities to “protect one of the last bastions of established home‑grown jazz venues in Singapore.” Aileen says she’s felt the weight of the town’s support and truly hopes for a second chance.
What If the Fight Fails?
Right now, the rent at 11 Bali Lane is “astronomical.” Without the buzz of live acts, the café’s revenue is set to evaporate, and the grim reality is a permanent closing. As Aileen warned, “It’s a chasm we can’t afford to cross without the loyal crowd that feeds us herder pies.”
From a place that once nurtured the likes of Fakkah Fuzz and sing‑song superstar Charlie Lim, we’re witnessing a potential end‑of‑era moment. Keep watching: the battle against bureaucratic doom has just begun, and the community is rallying behind the one‑plus‑orange café that’s seen smiling faces for 13 years. Stay tuned for the next act of the drama unfolding in Kampong Glam’s skyline.
