Desaru Coast: The Sept 12-14 Ombak Festival is set to create waves at Desaru Coast, Kota Tinggi as it promises a vibrant celebration of the fusion of global communities as well as Southeast Asian culture and creativity. Ombak Festival director Karina Ridzuan said that as one of the most anticipated events, this year’s edition will focus on regional talent across music, performance, arts, food, and family-friendly experiences through Ombak Kids, in conjunction with Malaysia’s role as Chair of ASEAN.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, for their second year, the festival is set to feature a bolder vision and a broader scope that embodies Southeast Asian soul. The event aims to represent the best of ASEAN by combining global icons with regional talents to offer an unparalleled experience, including live music and artistic expression. Last year, the festival attracted over 5,000 visitors.
The festival is organized by the internationally renowned Desaru Coast resort destination, which has previously won various awards. This year’s edition will feature more exciting acts, including an appearance by funk legends George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. British singer, songwriter, and actress Joss Stone will also make a special appearance, previewing tracks from her upcoming album.
Karina Ridzuan mentioned the excitement of presenting Simply Red’s exclusive Southeast Asian performance in celebration of their 40th anniversary. Popular DJ duo Flight Facilities from Australia will also be making their Malaysian debut. A stellar lineup of ASEAN artists is set to grace the stage, including Phum Viphurit of Thailand; local rappers Joe Flizzow and SonaOne; hip-hop artist Ismail Izzani; Malaysian ska band Gerhana Skacinta; Singapore’s The Pinholes; musical duo Diskoria; and the talented multidisciplinary artist Tanayu from Indonesia.
One of the unique features of this year’s Ombak Festival will be ‘The Ultimate Weekend,’ which is designed for everyone. It offers a wide variety of food and beverages, a strong artistic lineup, and a special Ombak Kids program for children. Following last year’s success, fan favorites will return for the 2025 edition, including the grilling skills of Andrew Walsh and Carbon KL, kitemaking with Go Fly Kites, and 10-foot-tall festival puppets Meera and Fiz under the Ombak Kids program.
In terms of arts, the Segaris Art Centre is collaborating again with local students. Last year, they featured sculpture, and this year they will present block printing techniques. The long-term goal is to make the event a must-attend festival in Southeast Asia, in line with efforts to build momentum towards the Visit Johor Year and Visit Malaysia 2026.
Those interested in attending the festival can get their early bird passes at http://www.ombakfestival.com/ or Ticketmelon. The one-day pass is priced at RM200 for Sept 12 (Friday) and RM300 each for Sept 13 (Saturday) and Sept 14 (Sunday). The two-day pass for Sept 13 and 14 is priced at RM550, while the three-day pass for Sept 12-14 is priced at RM650 each.