The company behind one of Australia’s most popular music festivals has collapsed after a long-running series of setbacks.
The parent company of the Grass is Greener festival, Hand Picked Events and Marketing, has gone into liquidation leaving $3million in unpaid debts.
Oliver Frost, sole director of the festival, has cited the pandemic, low ticket sales, extreme whether events and artists pulling out as the key factors for its collapse.
It comes as ticketholders of four cancelled legs of the festival – in Cairns, Gold Coast, Canberra and Geelong – are still waiting for refunds months after they were axed.
The latest administration report reveals $120,900 is still owing to ticket holders.
Grass is Greener’s parent company, Hand Picked Events and Marketing, is out of business eight months after their Cairns, Gold Coast, Canberra and Geelong festivals were cancelled
Oliver Frost, sole director of the festival, cited the pandemic, low ticket sales, extreme whether events and artists pulling out as the key factors for the liquidation
Disappointed music fans have slammed organisers on social media since the cancellations were announced in November 2022.
‘Can’t you guys make an announcement regarding refunds so that everyone is a_ updated and b) doesn’t think y’all are being snakey AF,’ one person wrote in the comments of a post announcing the cancellation.
The Grass is Greener page replied by asking them to email a now-defunct address for more information.
By the end of December, fans were still waiting for tickets to be refunded.
‘It’s almost the end of the year,’ a second person wrote online. ‘I have sent you an email and wrote to you on messenger, you guys replied once.’
Comments have since been disabled on the Grass is Greener Facebook and Instagram pages.
A blanket update saying ‘please check you emails for refund information’ was posted to the festival’s Instagram page in late 2022 for Geelong and Canberra ticketholders.
The page has since been inactive.
Ticket sales for Grass is Greener were so low they failed to meet the expectations of global artists, some of whom began pulling out prior to their planned performances.
Ty Dolla $ign, ZHU, Maya Jane Coles and Sydney drill-rap outfit ONEFOUR were among those who cancelled appearances at Grass is Greener festivals.
Mr Frost said he understood the disappointment of music fans but costs had spiralled out of control.
‘Prior to Covid, we had put on successful music events for six years and our intention was to continue to expand on these great experiences for fans and artists,’ he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
‘Unfortunately spiralling costs following Covid, coupled with unforeseen extreme weather conditions and an already tough environment for the live entertainment and hospitality industries, greatly contributed to this outcome.
Ticketholder of the cancelled legs of the festival have struggled to secure refunds in months after the shows were shelved, with $120,900 still owing to ticketholders
A recent string of cancellations in the music industry has disillusioned those who still want to go, with one person saying they’ll only trust on-the-day ticket sales from now on
‘It was never our intention to do anything other than create a festival that had a positive economic impact for our community — including for staff and suppliers, many of which are friends — and the artists involved.’
Creditors have been told Mr Frost and fellow Grass is Greener co-founder Jonathan Eddings used the festival’s money to give interest-free loans to Gold Coast restaurants the pair had a stake in, the Bulletin reported
The restaurants – including Maman and Naami at Burleigh, Luciana Tapas at Tugun and Milky Lane at Surfers Paradise – as well as an F45 gym in Lismore received more than $760,000.
A report from the administrators, BCR Advisory, confirmed that these loans would not be repaid.
‘Creditors will receive an update report within three months of the liquidation appointment,’ Tom Vandermeer of BCR Advisory told the Bulletin.
A string of cancellations in the music industry has left wannabe festival-goers disillusioned, with one fan saying they will now only trust on-the-day ticket sales.
‘After Promiseland, Stormzy and Grass is Greener, I’ve come to the conclusion that the best way to buy concert tickets is just to buy a resell ticket on the day,’ they wrote on Twitter.
‘It’s so unfair having last minute cancellations, ESPECIALLY if there’s no refund.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Frost and BCR Advisory for comment.
