JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 23 (Bernama) — The Ombak Festival 2025, featuring global icons, ASEAN talents, culinary experiences and family-friendly activities, concluded its second edition with a spectacular three-day showcase from Sept 12 to 14 at Desaru Coast, Kota Tinggi,
Ombak Festival 2025 director Karina Ridzuan said the festival was designed as a bold celebration of ASEAN creativity, culture and community.
She said the festival brought together large crowds of music lovers, families and art enthusiasts from across the region, who enjoyed a fusion of cultural festivities, exceptional music, gastronomic curation and visual art showcases.
“The energy on stage and the crowd were electric from Simply Red’s Asia-exclusive 40th anniversary set, Joss Stone’s soulful preview of her new album and performances by regional stars such as Phum Viphurit, Joe Flizzow, SonaOne and Ismail Izzani, which made the event a truly ASEAN-forward experience,” she said in a statement.
Karina said the festival also featured legendary performances from George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Joss Stone and Flight Facilities, alongside 29 of Southeast Asia’s brightest talents including Zamaera, Diskoria, The Pinholes, Tanayu, Keyana, Kyoto Protocol and Vanthan.
She explained that festival-goers enjoyed relaxing and comfortable stays at Desaru Coast’s resorts including The Sirēya Desaru Coast, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort and Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas.
She emphasised that the festival was more than just a weekend celebration as it also reflected Desaru Coast’s commitment to supporting Johor’s growing role as a hub for cultural events in Southeast Asia, especially as Malaysia leads ASEAN in 2025 and gears up for Visit Johor and Visit Malaysia Year in 2026.
Karina said at the same time it transformed Desaru Coast into a vibrant canvas of creativity, where festival-goers joined drum rhythm sessions with The Coast Drum Circle, admired modern and contemporary Malaysian works curated by Segaris Art Center, and learned traditional moves in a Zapin workshop.
“Artisanal crafts were also showcased at the Pasar Seloka bazaar, alongside niche projects such as the upcycling initiative by Adeline Loo and educational puppetry by SIAPA Theatre,” she said.
Moreover, Karina said festival-goers also enjoyed dishes from Sazón Tapas & Grill by Andrew Walsh, Carbon KL’s Smoke & Fire, and a selection of Johor local flavours.
She noted that music lovers explored a vinyl pop-up by Kena Sound and casual mahjong sessions by All Tiled Up, which added local cultural charm in a relaxed setting.
Families enjoyed activities at the Ombak Kids Zone, which featured crowd favourites and new highlights such as Go Fly Kites, the LEGOLAND Speed Building Challenge, the 10-foot puppets Meera & Fiz, interactive Mereka Games and the whimsical Funfair of Forgotten Futures.
“We partnered with Kiddocare to ensure parents had access to trusted childcare services throughout the festival,” she said.
Karina said beyond the weekend of music, food and arts, Ombak Festival 2025 proved itself as one of Southeast Asia’s leading cultural celebrations, while showcasing Desaru Coast as a dynamic host for premier destination experiences.
“We look forward to welcoming festival goers back for the 2026 edition with even more unforgettable experiences,” she said.
–BERNAMA
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