Kesha performs during MusiCares’ Person of the Year ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 30, 2026. Courtesy The Recording Academy.
SAN FRANCISCO — At a picturesque sunset performance with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop, pop star Kesha played an intimate 30-minute surprise set in the Presidio’s Tunnel Tops park on Friday.
The pop-up show doubled as a promotion for Live Nation’s “Summer of Live” campaign, which offers $30 tickets to thousands of concerts across the U.S. and Canada through May 5.
If the goal was to generate buzz, it worked.
Fans showed up in glitter, animal print and full Freedom Tour mode, greeted by drag performers handing out folding fans that quickly became part of the night’s rhythm. By the time Kesha took the stage, the crowd was already in motion.
Though overcast, the energy at the park was anything but dim.
She made a theatrical entrance, walking through a cluster of photographers and dancers in a cow-print coat as “JOYRIDE,” the fierce lead single from her latest album . (PERIOD), blasted. Within seconds, the park shifted from laidback hangout to full dance floor.
“What the fuck is up, San Francisco?” she shouted after hugging some fans at the very front and grinning before launching into “Timber,” which had the crowd jumping.
From there, Kesha leaned into her catalog. “Blow” and “BOY CRAZY” kept the tempo high. The biggest moment came during “Tik Tok.”
Kesha paused to cue the crowd:
“There’s some new words to this one,” she said, cueing the crowd to her updated thoughts on Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.
What followed was loud, unified and unmistakable — a rewritten lyric that doubled as a pointed statement. It was also a reminder of how much her narrative has shifted.
A thunderous bass drop signaled time for “Sleazy” as Kesha rapped her way through the lyrics and worked her way around the stage. At one point, dancers onstage grabbed fans’ phones to capture the chaos from inside it.
“We R Who We R” and “Your Love Is My Drug” kept the energy up, with strangers dancing shoulder to shoulder. Between songs, Kesha joked about resettling in the Bay Area and asked for recommendations on the city’s best gay bars.
“I’m moving to San Francisco!” she shouted.
Another highlight was unreleased track (at least until May 8) “Origami,” a fast-paced cut with EDM influences, distorted vocals and cheeky lyrics.
DJ duo MGNA Crrrta opened with a high-energy hourlong set packed with pop remixes, running through songs by like Charli XCX, Ellie Goulding, Slayyyter, Zedd and others. They stayed onstage throughout Kesha’s performance, keeping the momentum alive.
The Presidio and Golden Gate Bridge, site of a surprise concert by Kesha on May 1, 2026.
Kesha kicks off her Freedom Tour on May 23 in San Diego before making her way back to the Bay Area at Concord’s Toyota Pavilion on May 27.
For Live Nation — American’s largest concert promoter — the timing is notable. The company has faced increased scrutiny over ticket pricing in recent years, and the $30 promotion is a clear attempt to draw fans back.
The “Summer of Live” offer includes more than 4,000 shows across genres and venues, from clubs to arenas, featuring artists like 5 Seconds of Summer, Empire of the Sun, The Fray, Goo Goo Dolls, James Taylor, Kesha, Kid Cudi, Luke Bryan, Machine Gun Kelly, NE-YO and AKON, the Pussycat Dolls, Tim McGraw and more.
For more information, visit Live Nation’s website, select a participating show from the list and select the ticket type labeled “Summer of Live Promotion,” add the tickets to your cart and proceed to checkout.
This story will be updated with photos when they become available.
About The Author
Vera Maksymiuk is a Polish American photographer and writer. She’s written for the Stanford Daily, The Red Wheelbarrow and most recently, the San Francisco chapter of Her Campus. She is also a published poet.
Vera Maksymiuk is a Polish American photographer and writer. She’s written for the Stanford Daily, The Red Wheelbarrow and most recently, the San Francisco chapter of Her Campus. She is also a published poet.