Ash Pose as Their Own Tribute Band at Kendal Calling — Then Get Handed a UK Gold Disc Onstage
Northern Irish alt-rock band Ash pulled off a double surprise at the UK's Kendal Calling festival in late July 2026: they were booked under a fake tribute-act name, "RehAsh," only to reveal their real identity mid-set and then be handed a UK gold disc for their 1996 single "Girl From Mars" — a certification frontman Tim Wheeler and bassist Mark Hamilton had no idea was coming.
A fake band, a real surprise set
The stunt played out on the Tim Peaks Diner stage, curated by The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess. Listed on the festival bill as "Rehash," a supposed local Cumbrian tribute band, the act turned out to be Ash themselves, playing fan favorites including "Kung Fu," "Girl From Mars," and "Burn Baby Burn." At the end of the set, drummer Rick McMurray joined Burgess to present Wheeler and Hamilton with the gold disc on the spot.
According to McMurray, he was the only member who knew about the certification in advance, working with Burgess to fold the presentation into what became "a secret gig within a secret gig." The timing lined up with the 31st anniversary of "Girl From Mars"'s release. Burgess said the idea started as a plan for a surprise Tim Peaks set before evolving into the tribute-band disguise.
Why the gold disc matters
UK gold and platinum certifications are awarded by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI); a gold single requires 400,000 units (including streaming equivalents), while a gold album requires 100,000. "Girl From Mars" appears on Ash's debut album 1977 and was the band's first single to reach the UK Top 40, peaking at No. 11. Wheeler wrote it at age 16, and the band performed it on Top Of The Pops in the mid-1990s. This is the first time the track has reached gold status.
What's next: a 30th-anniversary tour
The Kendal Calling appearance follows Ash's announcement of a 30th-anniversary reissue of 1977, alongside a new tour and a special livestream concert. The tour begins in September 2026, with dates across Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
- Sept 4 — Rosemount, Perth, Australia
- Sept 5 — Freo Social, Fremantle, Australia
- Sept 10 — The Tivoli, Brisbane, Australia
- Further dates for New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Europe — not yet announced