On Friday, June 12, we will be presenting a special unplugged concert with Stevie Coyle, co-founder and former rhythm, fingerstyle and lap steel guitarist of the phenomenal string band, the Waybacks. This show will mark an experiment for the storied coffeehouse — a summertime unplugged show in the cozy confines of the Stetson Gallery inside the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead. Coyle will be celebrating the release of his brand new CD, Ten-in-One.

When asked to describe the new album, Stevie says “My solo album is done done done, and as it turns out, it’s a far cry from the sweet, simple little fingerstyle album I thought I was making when I started a year and a half ago. But lordy, when The Muse taps you, you gotta answer. Especially if she taps you with a baseball bat. For much of the making of this record I felt like I was just taking dictation from my own subconscious. What a wave THAT was to ride!”

Ten-In-One is a concept album, ostensibly about a trip to a sideshow and back. In addition to Coyle, the cast of players includes Mike Marshall from the David Grisman Band), Hank Roberts (who plays with Bill Frisell), Sam Bevan on bass, Kit Walker on keyboards and loops among many other talented players.

According to Stevie Coyle’s biography, he is one lucky bum. His dad ran a radio station in southern California and brought home all the promo LPs that didn’t fit the Spanish-language format. The Ventures’ Guitar Freakout, The 50 Guitars of Tommy Garrett and Alvin And The Chipmunks Play The Beatles’ Hits all came home on a single fateful day.

It didn’t hurt, either, that string-meister David Lindley played in a bluegrass band that rehearsed right next door and gave Stevie his very first lessons, or that his dear Granny was a pianist in the heyday of vaudeville and that his sainted mother was a whiz in mandolin orchestras during the 1930s.

Not even several years of playing Folk Masses every Sunday could quash his musical spirit, and in high school he began fingerpicking, inspired — as so many were — by that first Hot Tuna album.

After securing degrees in Theatre and Theology at Santa Clara University he hit the road for three years with The Royal Lichtenstein Circus. Once back home, he signed on as actor and stage manager for The San Jose Repertory Company. He announced killer whale shows. His best friend was an elephant.

He and his good pal Roy Zimmerman (who will be playing the me&thee in October) have worked closely in several collaborations over the past 25 years, including folk tribute / parody band The Foremen and comedy duo The Reagan Bros. in Los Angeles, and while there, Stevie appeared on “Cheers” and in many television commercials and had a regular role on “The Young And The Restless” (which was utterly subsumed by then- daily broadcasts of the interminable Iran-Contra hearings.)

Safely back in the Bay Area, he continued his acting career, doing commercials, radio, voiceovers and films and played in folk duos The Frontmen and The Back Room Boys. In 1999 he co-founded and fronted The Waybacks and toured steadily with them from 2001 through 2007. The band released four albums in that time, played major festivals like Merlefest, Grey Fox, Floydfest and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, toured Australia and collaborated with Lloyd Maines, Michelle Shocked and Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead.

The highly respected house concert series, Russ and Julie’s in California, presented Stevie and had this to say about his solo show: “Our recent House Concert with the incomparable Stevie Coyle ranks among the best shows we’ve had. Stevie’s great song writing and amazing guitar playing were complemented by his humor, charm and exceptional rapport with the audience. He’s a dynamite performer and a true professional who left everyone raving about the show.”

When I speak to people who know The Waybacks, they always appreciate the humor, intelligence, and well-roundedness that Stevie brought to the band . . . he gave it a light-hearted seriousness and a walking-on-air groundedness that had broad appeal without being watered dowm . . . Polly King, Village Concerts, Palmyra, VA

On top of being a top-rate guitarist and singer, he is also an outstanding entertainer. He brings a lot of humor to his show, through funny songs, stories, and general chatter with the audience. He really connected with our group, and everyone had a wonderful time. Bo Russell, Casa Bowl House Concerts, Orlando, FL