A picturesque private park in the heart of Moseley is the scene for a new festival next weekend which promises to become one of the events of the year.
Moseley Folk Festival looks set to become an annual highlight of the city's music calendar with a superb line-up and the sort of attention to detail that so often detract from other similar events.
Taking the place of the gypsy jazz L'esprit Manouche event, the Moseley Folk Festival is a deliberate attempt to broaden the musical appeal of what, weather permitting, is one of the most chilled weekends of the year.
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With folk music once again on the ascendant, thanks to a new breed of bands and the rediscovery of old talent, the timing's perfect and advance ticket sales alone show that the two-day event looks set to be a sell-out.
Top of the bill are the legendary Incredible String Band, the ground-breaking 1960s group who fused traditional music with a hippy sensibility, in the process creating a magical body of work which has grown in stature over the years.
This will be the last gig for the recently reformed String Band, now fronted by Mike Heron and Clive Palmer.
In an intriguing twist, founder member Robin Williamson is also on the bill, playing a solo set.
Although the relationship between Heron and Williamson has often been frosty, there will be many who are hoping that the pair can be persuaded to share a stage for one last crack of the whip.
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The organisers have no idea whether this will happen but it's bound to add a certain frisson to the day.
Also booked are Pentangle, contemporaries of the Incredible String Band. With original singer Jacquie McShee at the helm, expect jazz-tinged folk and intricate guitar-play.
Representing the new breed are Tunng, a superb proposition who fuse delicate folk-flecked songs with all manner of electronics and esoteric percussion. Of all the new folk acts to have emerged recently, it's Tunng who have picked up the baton dropped by the Incredible String Band and run with it.
A more robust proposition on Sunday is Hayseed Dixie, a bluegrass outfit from America who adopt the attitude of Deliverance rednecks and weld it to a set of AC/DC and hard rock covers.
More than a novelty act, Hayseed Dixie are a superb live band with several Midlands appearances already under their belt.
To prove that folk is a broad church, there will be appearances by Circulus, a band that perform old English music in the garb of medieval minstrels, plus a set by Seth Lakeman, the Mercury Prize-nominated singer who has worked with many big names on the scene and is now making waves himself.
Nick (son of Roy) Harper is another favourite. A superb guitar-ist and singer, he has a strong fan-base and a strong bag of material to dip into.
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Other names of note include Scott Matthews, John Renbourn and Findlay Brown.
Jerv Havill, one of the festival's organisers, explains how the festival came to be. "I had observed L'Esprit Manouche and seen its strengths and weakness," he said.
"It was very much a niche event, although the music was great. We wanted to broaden the appeal and we're all big folk fans."
Moseley Park, privately owned and run by a committee, were interested in the idea and, after a few licensing teething troubles, the event quickly started to take shape.
Any event attracting more than 500 people has to gain a premises licence and with 1,500 expected at the festival, there followed a nervous wait while the protocol was followed.
Licensing was one of the factors that put paid to L'Esprit Manouche and the public could have easily objected to the folk festival.
The organisers have deliberately kept the numbers down in order to avoid overcrowding.
"We don't want to make it an unpleasant experience," explain Jerv.
"It's all outdoors, with plenty of marquees. If the weather is looking bad we'll act accordingly and get more marquees for cover. The weather shouldn't be an issue at all."
He's just come back from the Green Man Festival, the current benchmark for cool folk festivals. This 8,000 capacity event has also grown over the past three years from an informal gathering to a more organised affair.
The recent Big Chill festival also shows that there's a growing interest in all things acoustic and trad.
The organisers of the Moseley Folk Festival are keen to stress that the two days are very family friendly with plenty more on offer besides the music.
"We have morris dancers, some authentic pagans, a knitting corner and a karam (an Indian board game which crosses draughts with pool) competition."
There'll also be plenty of real ale on tap and food stalls, plus children's entertainers throughout the weekend.
Jerv sees no reason why the event shouldn't be an annual affair which goes from strength to strength.
"We definitely want to come back year after year as we get more efficient. What we will provide is a safe, good time for all."