T he hills will be alive with the sound of Bristol- inspired music for the very last time this August.

Yes, after 20 glorious years, the quaintly named West festival, The Tribe of Doris, is calling it a day.

In those two decades, says spokesman, Will Gethin, those who have attended have experienced "pioneering intercultural drumming, dance and song."

Now, he adds, this legendary local event, a cross between an al fresco summer school and a full-on festival, plans to go out with "a crescendo".

The Tribe of Doris takes place for the final time from August 9 to 14 in the glorious Blackdown Hills in Devon.

But the proceedings are welded to all things Bristol by the fact it was founded by two Bristolians, Deasy Bamford and Siobhan Kierans.

Deasy has described the event as more of a summertime music school than a festival.

"It all started when me and my friend Siobhan were taking part in the drumming classes held at the Malcolm X Centre in St Paul's, Bristol," explains Deasy.

"That was about 20 years ago and was when drumming had just started catching on in Britain. We both wanted to give drumming 'a place' and make it a bit more respectable.

"I had been to Africa and had met some drummers and I thought, 'why not hold a drumming convention', like a business convention but with drums. We wrote to the African drummers and asked them to join in and said we'd pay them £50."

The first Tribe of Doris took place at the Scout HQ in Woodhouse Down, Almondsbury, near Bristol, in 1992, and it has evolved from there.

This last one promises an extensive line-up of workshops and performances.

Highlights include renowned polyphonic singer Anita Deaulne of Zap Mama fame; authentic Moroccan Gnawa trance musicians Jil Gnawa; African dance and drum legend Nii Tagoe from Baka Beyond; Seckou Keita from Senegal; flamenco dance sensation Felipe de Algeciras; celebrated Sufi Whirling pioneer Sheikh Ahmad Dede and Mexican shaman Itzcoatl Papalotzin.

Hailed as the world's most vibrant intercultural exchange of acoustic music, dance, song and ceremony, Doris has been a major pioneer for intercultural performing arts, with a mission to take them to a wider audience. Now it is felt is the time to call it a day.

"Twenty years later we have achieved what we set out to do," says Siobhan.

"Now there are plenty of places where you can learn to drum, dance and sing in various worldwide traditions, there are drumming workshops and choirs all over the UK.

"We will continue to provide intercultural arts events, but this summer school will be the last – so come and learn, develop and share from lots of different cultures and let's send uplifting ripples out into the world."

There will be 40-plus workshops a day in drumming, dance and voice, intermingled with open mic performances, spontaneous jams, indigenous ceremonies, fireside gatherings and creative children's activities, in addition to evening showcase performances.

The youth area offers football skills, metal work, circus skills, trampolining, hip hop, rap and poetry.

And if you just want to relax, there's a wellbeing zone with yoga, tai chi and even a sauna.

Workshop highlights from the Latin countries include Flamenco song, samba reggae, Brazilian maracutu drumming and dance, and Orisha song.

"What's so magical about Doris is its amazing cultural diversity," adds Siobhan.

"People say they feel at home here, no matter what their cultural roots. The act of learning and sharing through music, dance and ceremony creates a feeling of belonging that you don't get from passively consuming 'other cultures' at most world music events."

The Tribe of Doris Blackdown Hills, Devon, August 9-14. Tickets cost £60-£220. Tel 0845 458 0190 or visit www.tribeofdoris.co.uk.