Grace Jones performs during Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2024. Mariana Garcia/STAFF.

SAN FRANCISCO — Grace Jones made a grand entrance at Land’s End Stage, arriving in style and fashionably late in an enormous, flowing white skirt and a striking red headdress, elevated high above the stage for everyone to see. Her dramatic appearance was matched by her theatrical stage presence.

The show began with Jones’ famous Iggy Pop cover, “Nightclubbing.” Her ethereal vocals and high-energy performance amped up the crowd.

“How you doing? You ready to party? Oh, I don’t want to go home either, so I’ll be right here, here I come,” the iconic singer, model and actress, now 76, announced.

Shen then descended from her elevated position to the stage.

Grace Jones performs during Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2024.

“It’s really cold up here. I hope you heat me up,” Jones said as the sun began to set over Land’s End and the temperature dropped. “Ready for me to sing a song?”

For her next one, Jones sported a skull-adorned headdress that partially obscured her face, a black cape, bodysuit and tights. She used the cape dramatically throughout her performance, especially during the guitar riff of “Leave Me Out.”

“Where are we going to? Who’s been to Jamaica? I’m going to Jamaica; I’m going to pretend that I’m hot and sexy with my Jamaican guy, yeah?” she said, to whoops and hollers, before kicking into “My Jamaican Guy,” which was later famously sampled by LL Cool J for “Doin’ It.” She wore a headdress in Jamaican flag colors and sky-high heeled boots. She energetically danced, kicking her legs up and performing a side kick.

Jones then adopted an even more mischievous tone.

“I’m going to take you to church, but before we get there, have a nice little wine,” she said. “I haven’t got any bread to go with it, but I have my church hat and I gotta give thanks.”

Grace Jones performs during Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2024.

She held up a glass, took a sip, and performed while shaking her skirt and using a tambourine and a stick to tap her thigh and gesture around.

In a surprising shift, Jones transitioned to a gentle piano rendition of “Amazing Grace,” adding, “I haven’t stopped crying, either.” But the mood didn’t last long as she invited festivalgoers to “go clubbing” during “Slave to the Rhythm.” She later donned a glittering, diamond-encrusted bowler hat and a ruffled tutu for “Pull Up to the Bumper.”

Jones’ set had as many wardrobe changes (and one wardrobe malfunction) as it did surprises. At one point, as if to prove her stamina, she hula-hooped while she sang. Another highlight was when she climbed onto a security guard’s shoulders and had him ferry her around while she high-fived attendees in the front row.

Introducing new track “The Key,” Grace Jones donned a mask with cat ears.

“Come on now, keep it up. It’s the first time I’m playing this song in the U.S. or anywhere. It’s easy, and it’s beautiful,” she said. The song blended gospel with a fun, freeing vibe.

“The key will set you free,” she crooned.

Follow photographer Mariana García at instagram.com/marianagphoto.