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Cask & Drum's third incarnation is in the works for Oct. 17, 2015, in Birmingham's Avondale neighborhood. (Cask & Drum Instagram photos)

Birmingham's Cask & Drum festival will move to Avondale this year, with a center of activity at Avondale Brewing Co., 201 41st St. South.

The festival, in its third year, is set for Oct. 17, with a lineup 10-12 music acts, a beer-and-wine tasting and a children's area.

Organizers announced the news today, lauding the popularity of the Avondale neighborhood and its growing reputation as an entertainment district.

"I'm not sure there's a hotter spot in our area right now," said Todd Coder, executive producer for Cask & Drum. "I can't think of a better place for us to go."

In previous years, Cask & Drum took place on a grassy site near Pepper Place in the Lakeview neighborhood, off Second Avenue South between 26th Street and Red Mountain Expressway.

The move to Avondale makes sense, Coder said, partly because Avondale Brewing Co. has a permanent outdoor stage in its courtyard -- one that's already proved successful for the venue's own concert series. Also, the brewery has hosted other festivals on its site, including Southbound, Land Aid and Earthbound's Earthfest.

(Note: A newly filed lawsuit involving the owners of Avondale Brewing Co. should not affect events there, a lawyer for the brewery said.)

Although Avondale Brewing Co. and it stage will serve as "ground zero" for Cask & Drum, part of Second Avenue South is likely to be blocked from traffic. This strategy will expand the festival's footprint beyond the brewery, Coder said, making room for a wine-and-beer tent and other components.

"We'll dress up the area and do special things," Coder said. "We're getting back to basics this year. The cornerstone of the event has always been music and the wine-and-beer tasting."

Two elements that were added in 2014 -- the Kick'n Chick'n Wing Fest and the Pigskin Party with big-screen TVs for football viewing -- won't be part of Cask & Drum this year.

However, Coder said the festival will continue to donate part of its proceeds to Magic Moments, a nonprofit organization that grants wishes for gravely ill children in Alabama. (Cask & Drum's official name is Cask & Drum Benefiting Magic Moments.)

Music acts will be announced this summer, Coder said, and he expects the 2015 lineup to place an emphasis on "rootsier" music. (Girl Talk headlined in 2014, offering a DJ set that was heavy on electronica and computer mashups.)

Advance tickets for Cask & Drum will be priced at $30 general admission, $60 for a Cask Pass that includes the wine-and-beer tasting, $125 for VIP. An on-sale date for those tickets has yet to be announced. A limited number of tickets was sold during two holiday pre-sales in 2014, priced at $25-$99, but those are no longer available.

Cask & Drum is likely to cap its attendance at about 3,500 people this year, Coder said, to accord with its new setting.

The festival is the brainchild of six partners, all of whom wanted to create a relaxed, hip and festive event in Birmingham:

Coder

Scott Register, host of the

Jeff Gale

Guy McCullough

Jeff Clanton

Will Lochamy

They've retooled the festival each year, responding to comments from folks who attend and changing components as necessary. Previous music acts have included Dwight Yoakam, the Drive-By Truckers, Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires, Houndmouth, Lord Huron, Lucero, Shovels & Rope, Shelly Colvin and Railroad Earth.

"We loved our time in Lakeview and I think we served our purpose there, creating awareness for the Lakeview area," Coder said. "This year, we'll create a more intimate event and change the landscape a bit."