Music festival goes bust owing fans refunds and suppliers six figures

By Liam On Dec 26, 2022

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

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

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

Australian music festival The Grass is Greener, run by influencer Nikki Westcott’s restaurateur fiancé Oli Frost, has been canceled after his company fell into administration. Pictured: Frost and Westcott

According to The Gold Coast NewsletterThe servicers will review more than $570,000 in loans made to other businesses managed by Mr. Frost and Mr. Eddings.

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

However, a host of international artists dropped out shortly after the lineup was announced, including Ty Dolla $ign, ZHU, and Maya Jane Coles.

According to The Gold Coast Bulletin, the servicers will evaluate more than $570,000 in loans made to other companies managed by Frost and Eddings. Pictured: Festival co-founder Johnny Eddings.

Sydney hip-hop group ONEFOUR also withdrew before playing a show, claiming organizers “failed to meet 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 were canceled due to poor ticket sales, with fewer than 1,900 tickets sold in total.

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

However, a host of international artists dropped out shortly after the lineup was announced, 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 about $44.5 million.

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

Sydney hip-hop group ONEFOUR also pulled out before playing a show, claiming organizers “failed to meet 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

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

Mr Frost’s director’s report shows the names of 1,200 people who have run out of money after buying around 1,900 tickets for the canceled festivals in Canberra and Geelong.

Mr Frost operates the Maman restaurant in James St, Burleigh Heads along with Tammy Hembrow’s ex Matt Poole.

Mr Frost’s director’s report shows the names of 1,200 people who have run out of money after buying around 1,900 tickets for the canceled festivals in Canberra and Geelong. Pictured: Frost and Westcott

He also runs the Lucia Tapas Garden restaurant in the Queensland beachside town of Tugun.

Photos shared on his Instagram account show Mr. Frost showing off his extravagant lifestyle as he travels the world with his glamorous fiancée Westcott.

Nikki has over 100,000 followers on Instagram and owns the fashion brands JGR & STN (Jagger and Stone), Wild Ones and a wine called Jackson West.

The Grass is Greener’s social media channels shut down public comment after being inundated with complaints.