Ash surprise fans at Kendal Calling by performing as tribute band before being presented with gold discs for ‘Girl From Mars’

    Ash have surprised fans at Kendal Calling by taking to the stage pretending to be a tribute band, in a set that also saw them presented with gold discs for their hit single ‘Girl From Mars’.

    • READ MORE: Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! We put Ash’s Tim Wheeler to the test

    The 2026 edition of the festival took place at Lowther Deer Park, near Penrith, over the weekend, and saw performances from Wolf Alice, Biffy Clyro, Primal Scream, Scissor Sisters and The Libertines.

    There was also a set planned from Rehash, a band described as a Cumbria-based tribute band to alt-rock band Ash. However, fans at the site were surprised to see the real band – formed of vocalist and guitarist Tim Wheeler, bassist Mark Hamilton and drummer Rick McMurray – take to the stage instead for a surprise set.

    Held at the Tim Peaks Diner area, which is run by The Charlatans’ frontman Tim Burgess, the trio broke out renditions of fan favourites including ‘Kung Fu’, ‘Girl From Mars’ and ‘Burn Baby Burn’.