Covid lockdown Wales: Elton John’s half-brother denies organising unlicenced music event

Elton John’s half-brother who condemned Rocketman biopic denies breaking lockdown laws by claiming unlicensed music event with 200 revellers was a ‘spiritual gathering’, court hears

  • Geoff Dwight, 54, denies helping organise an unlicensed music event in Wales
  • It is alleged he helped organise the event attended by 200 people on August 29
  • His defence lawyer also argued the gathering was a ‘religious spiritual event’
  • 58-year-old Karen Webb also denied having helped to organise the event

Sir Elton John’s half-brother today denied breaking lockdown laws by claiming that an unlicensed music event attended by more than 200 revellers was a religious spiritual gathering. 

Geoff Dwight, 54, is accused of organising the mass event in Denbighshire on August 29 last year in contravention of Welsh health protection regulations which prohibit gatherings of more than 30 people.

Prosecutors allege that the event was attended by more than 200 people, with police bodycam footage to prove it – and that such an event would have been banned during the pandemic.

Appearing at Llandudno magistrates’ court today, Dwight, the Welsh half-brother of the famed singer who recently made headlines after criticising Sir Elton’s Rocketman biopic, denied the offence.  

Geoff Dwight, 54, (pictured) was was accused of breaching coronavirus rules by helping to organise an unlicensed music event claimed it was a religious spiritual gathering, a court heard today

Geoff Dwight has barely been in contact with his star brother (pictured) and leads an alternative lifestyle in the vale of Clwyd where he hand-makes yurts and harps and organises music festivals

Geoff Dwight has barely been in contact with his star brother (pictured) and leads an alternative lifestyle in the vale of Clwyd where he hand-makes yurts and harps and organises music festivals

Karen Webb, 58, also denied the allegation. 

Mr Fitzgerald said the event was advertised on Facebook but then cancelled and she took no further part in organising it.

District judge Gwyn Jones granted them unconditional bail until a trial before him in June.

Prosecution brings the potential for an unlimited fine.

 Dwight has barely been in contact with his star brother and leads an alternative lifestyle in the vale of Clwyd where he hand makes yurts and harps and organises music festivals. 

He has previously questioned the portrayal of their father in the movie Rocketman, saying it rewrote family history.

Webb’s Facebook profile shows an interest in ‘psytrance’ music and she insisted in one social media message: ‘We never breached the rules.’