Heading to the sandy shores of Desaru Coast in Johor, Malaysia is a fabulous, quick and easy mini-break from Singapore. And we’re always up for a good music festival packed with a killer line-up of international acts! The upcoming Ombak Festival 2024 offers both in one epic weekend of beats, bites, visual arts and activities for the kids.
Desaru Coast Ombak Festival 2024
The Ombak Festival runs over three jam-packed days from 13 to 15 September 2024. You’ll see more than 50 events across music and performances, including five international headliners. Plus, there’s great gastronomy by award-winning chefs, visual arts and crafts, and kids’ entertainment. And you can take advantage of great stay and play deals to soak up the vibrant atmosphere in style.
# Music festival headliners and local performances
The Friday 13 September evening festivities kick off with a Festival Opening Party on the beachfront of The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, a barbecue led by the grillmasters of Carbon KL with drinks by Reka:Bar, one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024. Over at Ember Beach Club, One&Only Desaru Coast, British DJ and producer Quantic will deliver a special performance to in-destination guests.
On Saturday 14 September, don’t miss an Asia-exclusive performance by pop icon Grace Jones. Swedish band The Cardigans will also feature on the Ombak Main Stage.
Everything ramps up to an awesome final day on Sunday 15 September, when six-time Grammy winner Nile Rodgers & CHIC (the mastermind behind ‘Le Freak’ and collaborator with Beyonce on ‘Cuff It’) takes to Ombak Main Stage. Also up on Sunday is R&B Hall of Fame songstress Macy Gray, celebrating the 25th anniversary of her debut album.
In addition to the star-studded headline acts, you can groove to tunes of local and regional artists Alena Murang, Thee Marloes, Aisyah Aziz, Bunga, Masdo, Joe Flizzow, Alextbh, Disko Santan, Kenji Law and more.
# Food and drinks
What’s a festival without food? We all know Johor, Malaysia is well known for its incredible cuisine. The Ombak Festival has your taste buds covered with delectable culinary experiences and tasting sessions featuring top chefs and mixologists from the region. At Festival Village, Food Fiction by REXKL will serve up F&B stars including Licky Chan, Jojo’s by Joloko, Stellar, Fafaba, Kai, Calle Taco, The REX Bar, Brotani, and Kantin. Sample Chef Ahsan Ali Qureshi’s flavourful South Asian offerings at the House of Qureshi and sip on signature Ombak cocktails by mixologists Joel Poon of Reka:Bar and Apurav Bhatia of Vér at Infinity Bar, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas.
There’s also a range of enticing exclusive events to grab tickets for. Kick off the weekend in style and dine with the performers at the Ombak Supper Club with The Stars by Chef Jun Wong of Yellow Fin Horse. Follow on with the Ember Beach Club Brunch by Chef Andrew Walsh, an elevated barbecue experience infused with Asian flavours. Other foodie centric events to enjoy include an exploration of Nusantara cuisine and indulgence in some of the best Johor street food.
# Visual arts and crafts
The Ombak Festival isn’t just for observers. Channel your inspiration and creativity by engaging with the various craft workshops, installations and exhibitions on offer. You can enjoy sip and paint sessions, create your own traditional Malay kite, learn more about the extent of plastic pollution at the Shore Debris Table, and shop distinctive Southeast Asian fashion lifestyle products curated by Dia Guild. Also at Festival Village you’ll find fashion innovators Kapten Batik, who’ll be showcasing their batik collection.
# Kids’ entertainment
This music festival is very family friendly, so you can make the most of the weekend with your crew. If you make it past the Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast, take a nature and wildlife tour at JungleWalla. Or try your hand at educational Mereka Garden Games including Connect Four and Angry Birds. Immerse your little ones in a multi-DJ environment at Silent Disco Asia. Also on the agenda are Star Wars-inspired shadow puppetry and storytelling sessions.
Ombak Festival Stay Packages
With Johor, Malaysia just a two-hour drive or 90-minute ferry from Singapore, there’s no reason you can’t nip over for a day of revelry. But with four 5-star resorts with beautiful beachfronts and sea views within a stone’s throw of the music festival, it makes sense to stay and enjoy the vibe! Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, and One & Only Desaru Coast all have early bird packages to suit every budget.
Festival Day Passes (1-Day or 2-Day) are available on Ticketmelon or SISTIC, while Exclusive Ticketed Events (exclusive to Stay Package guests) can be purchased from Ticketmelon.
Don’t miss out on The Ultimate Weekend, and book your Stay Package for the full Ombak Festival experience. For more details, including the full schedule and Stay Package details, visit the official website.
