Music festival goes bust owing fans refunds and suppliers six figures

An Australian music festival run by influencer Nikki Westcott’s restauranteur fiancé Oli Frost has been axed after his company fell into administration. 

Launched in 2016 by Mr Frost and event organiser Johnny Eddings, The Grass Is Greener festival was an annual indie music festival held in cities around Queensland. 

However the company responsible for the festival, Handpicked Events and Marketing, founded by Mr Frost, went into administration on December 8. 

According to The Gold Coast Bulletin, administrators will assess over $570,000 in loans given to other businesses managed by Mr Frost and Mr Eddings. 

This year’s festival promised a stellar lineup of artists playing in Cairns, Gold Coast, Canberra, and Geelong.

However, a swathe of international artists pulled out shortly after the lineup was advertised, including Ty Dolla $ign, ZHU, and Maya Jane Coles.

According to The Gold Coast Bulletin, administrators will assess over $570,000 in loans given to other businesses managed by Mr Frost and Mr Eddings. Pictured: Festival co-founder Johnny Eddings

Sydney hip-hop group ONEFOUR also backed out before ever playing a show, claiming that organisers ‘failed to honour their obligations’ in an Instagram post. 

Despite this, the Cairns and Gold Coast festivals went ahead with the reduced lineup in October.

However, the upcoming Geelong and Canberra dates have since been axed due to poor ticket sales – with less than 1900 tickets sold in total.

Mr Frost (pictured) is a well known Gold Coast restaurateur. He operates the Maman restaurant in James St, Burleigh Heads alongside Tammy Hembrow’s ex Matt Poole

However, a swathe of international artists pulled out shortly after the lineup was advertised, including Ty Dolla $ign (pictured), ZHU, and Maya Jane Coles  

Ticket holders were informed that their refunds were withheld due to the bankruptcy of London-based ticketing company Festicket, which had sold tickets to the festival. 

Festicket had debts of around $44.5 million.

Yet despite Festicket being an ‘official partner’ of Grass is Greener, neither the festival nor its directors were named in the long list of creditors supplied to the UK regulator for Festicket.

Sydney hip-hop group ONEFOUR also backed out before ever playing a show, claiming that organisers ‘failed to honour their obligations’ in an Instagram post 

Ticket holders were informed that their refunds were withheld due to the bankruptcy of London-based ticketing company Festicket, which had sold tickets to the festival. Pictured: Frost and Westcott

Yet despite Festicket being an ‘official partner’ of Grass is Greener, neither the festival nor its directors were named in the long list of creditors supplied to the UK regulator for Festicket. Pictured: Frost and Westcott 

The Grass is Greener’s social media channels heave meanwhile banned comments from the public, after being inundated with complaints. 

The director report of Mr Frost shows the names of 1200 people who have been left out of pocket after buying around 1900 tickets for the cancelled festivals in Canberra and Geelong.

Mr Frost operate  Maman restaurant in James St, Burleigh Heads alongside Tammy Hembrow’s ex Matt Poole. 

The director report of Mr Frost shows the names of 1200 people who have been left out of pocket after buying around 1900 tickets for the cancelled festivals in Canberra and Geelong. Pictured: Frost and Westcott

He also runs restaurant Lucia Tapas Garden in the beach-side Queensland city of Tugun. 

Photos shared to his Instagram account see Mr Frost showcasing his extravagant lifestyle while traveling the globe with his glamorous fiancée Westcott. 

Nikki boasts over 100K followers on Instagram and owns fashion brands JGR & STN (Jagger and Stone), Wild Ones, and a wine named Jackson West. 

The Grass is Greener’s social media channels closed comments from the public after being inundated with complaints