Kanye West performs during the closing ceremony of the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto on Sunday, July 26, 2015.Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press
Kanye West
Brash and irrevocable, the hip-hop icon, Kardashian spouse and would-be fashion maven Kanye West continues to hog attention and consume most of the oxygen in any room he enters. His latest album, The Life of Pablo, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200, which makes it seven LPs in a row when it comes to that status. He achieved publicity and Taylor Swift's undying animosity with the nude-lookalike video for Famous, a song, a provocation and an accurate description of the man himself. Aug. 30 and 31, 8 p.m. $29.50 to $199. Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St., 1-855-985-5500 or ticketmaster.ca.
Harvest Picnic
One weekend after the Canadiana celebration of the nationally broadcast Tragically Hip concert, the annual to-do in Dundas brings together Ian Tyson, Jim Cuddy, the Rheostatics, Jann Arden, Joel Plaskett, Cowboy Junkies, Sylvia Tyson, Great Lake Swimmers and Alan Doyle for a three-day expression of true-north music and farm-fresh vendors. The lone big-name import is the American troubadour Ryan Adams, whose solo acoustic appearance on the festival's first night sets up a weekend of no frills and opportunities to fish, swim and enjoy a bumper-crop haul. Aug. 26 to 28. $19.50 to $99.50 (passes, $39 to $209.50). Christie Lake, 888-732-1682 or harvestpicnic.ca.
Sasheer Zamata
The American comedian was thrust into a spotlight in 2014 when she was hired by Saturday Night Live amid a controversy over the lack of black female cast members on the famous NBC franchise. While she has yet to establish herself on the show with any memorable characters, it wouldn't be the first time a gifted performer struggled to make their mark on SNL only to go on to achievements elsewhere. Looking at you, Robert Downey Jr., Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Sarah Silverman, and looking at Sasheer Zamata, who arrives in town for four hot sets over two nights. Aug. 26 (8 and 10 p.m.) and Aug. 27 (9 and 11 p.m.). $25. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St. W., 416-551-6540 or comedybar.ca.
Fan Expo Canada
Stan Lee is the star attraction at this year's geek-friendly fandango. At 93, the former Marvel Comics maestro makes what is being billed as his final public appearance in Canada. The scheduled events (on Sept. 1 and 3; the man needs a day off in between – he's no super hero even though he invented many) are being sold as intimate meet-and-greet situations. The ticket prices for those run to $349 (though an autograph only will set you back $100). Other stars include William Shatner, Mark Hamill, Gillian Anderson and Batman actors Adam West and Burt Ward. Sept. 1 to 4. $25 to $60 (four-day pass, $125). Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 222 Bremner Blvd., fanexpocanada.com.
Heartworn Highways
When we think of the "outlaw country" movement of the 1970s, our thoughts turn to such mavericks as Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson. And while those fellows are all in various halls of fame, they're not part of Heartworn Highway, a 1976 cinema verité portrait by James Szalapski that explores the ragged, whisky-based existences of singer-songwriters Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt, whose kitchen version of Waiting 'Round to Die on a borrowed guitar rings true unfortunately. A newly restored edition of the documentary and a live performance by the Blue Sky Miners marks the film's 40th anniversary. Aug. 31, 8 p.m. The Royal, 608 College St., 416-466-4400 or theroyal.to.
Brad Wheeler