I discover veteran acts Nile Rodgers and more at Desaru's Ombak Festival

DESARU, Malaysia - Nearly everyone I told about my plans to attend a music festival in Desaru gave me a look of confusion.

- Sarah Stanley

After all, the region is better known for being a relaxing, family-friendly destination, not one that pulses with the energy of a music festival.

But the tide is turning for Desaru. Under the multibillion-dollar Desaru Coast master development plan by the Malaysian state and its partners, 1,618ha of land along the southern tip of Malaysia is being transformed into a premier leisure destination.

Aside from new resorts that opened between 2018 and 2022, the inaugural Ombak Festival, held from Sept 13 to 15, has also contributed to reinvigorating the region.

My four-day Desaru trip was my first visit in more than 20 years, and Ombak Festival was my first music festival experience.

I am well accustomed to attending concerts, where I arrive ready to belt out my favourite song lyrics with the rest of the crowd. However, as I was unfamiliar with most of the artistes performing at the festival, I wondered if I would fully enjoy myself listening to headliners that were popular well before my time.

International acts included Swedish band The Cardigans, Jamaican singer-songwriter Grace Jones, American musician Nile Rodgers and American singer Macy Gray.