Sg up to the early eighties had a vibrant home grown music and arts scene. It died a slow death with the authorities quite against it branding this as "yellow culture." Although I was young then and didn't have the money to go to clubs, you could see adverts on local bands playing local clubs. My aunt then was into the clubbing scene and it was kinda hot then. She used to go to discos like Barberella, Lost Horizon - I know from those match boxes she took home as souvenirs.
Myself, went to a couple of 2nd Chance Rock Concerts where looking back, the bands were really good for the equipment they had. Bands like Sweet Charity, The Heritage, etc could stir the crowd up. However, there were always cops around and two or three riot squad (ang chia) buses outside the National Theatre awaiting to nab anyone who got too moved by the music.
The authorities did suppress the scene. That's why it never grew.
Cheers!