Internationally known piano man Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, a top North American blues personality, returns to the Rockfish Grill at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15. Cover is $8.

A headliner in his own right, Wayne also has backed artists like Charles Mingus, Jimmy Reed, Sonny Rhodes, Joe Louis Walker and Jeff Healey. Americans call his style traditional blues, while Europeans call it “rockin’ boogie.” Whatever it’s called, he promises compelling piano with charisma and energy.

Complementing Wayne’s keyboard skills are his vocals, which alternate between the urbane, West Coast blues style of Charles Brown, the shouting-out delivery of Big Joe Turner and the rockin’ boogie of Fats Domino. Real Blues magazine named him blues artist of the year in 2001 and best Canadian blues pianist in 1997 to 2005, and he’s won similar bests from the Toronto Blues Society.

For a change of pace, goth/acoustic/ambient band Tiny Vipers of Seattle headlines an all-ages show at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14 at Department of Safety. Admission is $6. Also performing are Austin, Texas, bands Balmorhea and Bexar Bexar.

Tiny Vipers’ music is “intense, beautiful, folk, acoustic, moody, deep, dark, thoughtful, deliberate, intense, and soft all the same,” according to reviewer Ahndrea Wilson of Northwest Music Blog. Jesy Fortino’s voice and music are described as beautiful, rich, deliberate and complex. Tiny Vipers records on Sub Pop Records and performs at significant venues such as the Triple Door in Seattle.

Also this week:

• Rockfish Grill, 320 Commercial Ave., presents the Stilly River Band, Aug. 13; Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Aug. 15; Chris Stevens and the Surf Monkeys, Aug. 16; Jacob Navarro and William Cook, Aug. 20. Music is 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 to 10:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays unless otherwise noted. Call 588-1720.

• Randy’s Pier 61 presents Mr. Entertainment, Jack Hamilton, at 6 p.m. Saturdays.

• Star Bar, 416-1/2 Commercial, presents frequent performances: Howlin’ Lane and the Angels of Sin, Aug. 15; Jerry Jones Quartet, Aug. 17. Call 293-6747.

• Brown Lantern Ale House, 412 Commercial Ave., presents live music most weekends, about 9 to midnight, $3 at the door. Open Jam Thursdays with Mike Rothmeyer are 9 p.m. to midnight. No cover. Call 293-2544.

• Watertown Pub, 314 Commercial Ave., offers live music most weekends. Saturday is ladies night with top 40 DJ Ben Brown; Wednesday is karaoke night with DJ Steve, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Call 293-3587.

• Flounder Bay Café in Skyline presents jazz with La Rosa Trio from 5 to 8 p.m. Sundays.

• Swinomish Northern Lights Casino presents Jazz Lunches geared to seniors 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays. Call 293-2691.

• Anacortes Eagles presents live music 7:30 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays: Silvercreek, Aug. 15-17; Charlie Brown, Aug. 29-30. Ray Peake plays 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Members and guests only. Call 293-3012.

• Adrift Restaurant, 510 Commercial Ave., presents Howlin’ Lane & the Angels Of Sin at 6 p.m. third Tuesdays. All ages.

• Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island presents Spoonshine Duo 6-9 p.m. Aug. 15 and 22. Call 293-4548 or visit http://www.guemesislandstore.com.