The Last Mile: 13 Music Collectives Unite For A Farewell Takeover At Golden Mile Complex
It’s time to say goodbye to a cultural institution (Credit: Flickr/Ee Shawn)
In a capricious metropolis that keeps hurtling towards the future, architectural relics like Golden Mile Complex are a rarity. But despite being gazetted as a conserved building in October 2022, the famous tiered building known affectionately as ‘Little Thailand’ will be swept up by the shifting tide of an en bloc sale in a couple of months. Come 1 May 2023, the tenants and vendors of Golden Mile Complex will vacate the premises, effectively snuffing out the legacy of an iconic landmark that has resonated with Singaporeans and foreigners since 1973. For members of the nightlife community, it’s a loss that’s achingly palpable.
Golden Mile Complex was first constructed in 1973 (Credit: Flickr/Jonathan Lin)
Amidst the un-Singaporean sprawl of Thai businesses and eateries exists an endearing network of bars, clubs and other culture-centric establishments that add colour to a city often described as drab or dull. You might’ve stumbled upon a studio space hidden within its labyrinthine layout hosting live bands and mosh pits, or accidentally wandered into a packed KTV with local DJs bumping out debaucheries of house and disco. Throughout the years, Golden Mile Complex has been a hub of music and nightlife adored by many. And now prior to its bittersweet departure, it’s about to get one fitting send-off – a festival-like farewell event called The Last Mile.
Enlivening the fading habitat on 4 March is an ambitious programme that flows across five venues, encouraging wanderers to hop from one Golden Mile Complex locale to another. Curated by Nick Bong and Daniel O’Connor (from day party promoters, Ice Cream Sundays), alongside Ulysses James and Dang Chau (from veteran selector squad, Mugic), The Last Mile promises a stuffed evening of musical entertainment that assembles 13 homegrown units encompassing collectives, labels, and publications. That’s 13 ways to party from 7.30pm till 4am, so let’s get to it.
A Mugic gig at Purn Rao KTV (Credit: Mark Lewis Tan)
The lineup features an ensemble that salutes both emerging trailblazers and seminal stalwarts, all uniting in soldiarity to celebrate the memory of Golden Mile Complex. Spicing up Purn Rao KTV is the trio of funk and soul pioneers Pushin’On, the bass-/jungle-inclined Revision Music, and the beloved Good Times crew best known for their legendary Blu Jaz fiestas. At 3 Saaap, scatter your imagination with the genre-bending and non-conforming tunage of Strange Weather and the newly-formed Super Enjoy. And over at Elite Club, the trinity of Mugic, Ice Cream Sundays and record label Darker Than Wax pull off a boogielicious kind of KTV experience.
Enclave is one of the many venues participating in The Last Mile (Credit: Enclave)
Meanwhile at Room 0416, you have a takeover from culture connoisseurs North East Social Club that’s putting on a medley of live acts and DJ sets, coupled with the experimental crusades of audio-visual collective Syndicate. Rounding up the five venues is Enclave, which will host the house- and techno-leaning soundtracks of streaming Samaritans Therapy Room and nightlife powerhouse Thugshop, as well as a showcase from – wait for it…
Life In Arpeggio! That’s right, Life In Arpeggio is proud to be the official media partner of The Last Mile. In the coming weeks, we’ll be providing coverage of this upcoming revelry including insightful features with the event organisers and its participating venues. We will also be taking part in The Last Mile programme, with a special segment at Enclave where we will debut the live edition of our 15-Min Flash Mix series.
Let’s give this place the farewell it deserves (Credit: Flickr/Jonathan Lin)
A large-scale jamboree that unites the community like this doesn’t happen often, let alone one that happens in a cherished institution that’s disappearing from our landscape. Get ready to say your goodbyes to Golden Mile Complex. It’s gonna be a massive one.
The Last Mile, 4 March 2023, 7.30pm-4am. Golden Mile Complex, 5001 Beach Road, Singapore 199588. Tickets go on sale here from 8 February. Life In Arpeggio is the media partner of The Last Mile.
