THE UK’s “loudest band” will tear up Oxford to fight homelessness at the 15th annual Audioscope music festival this weekend.

Noise rock foursome Part Chimp will play alongside a host of alternative heroes at the newly-refurbished Bullingdon in Cowley Road on Saturday night.

Electronica legends Plaid headline the show with more support from Gazelle Twin – all raising money for homelessness charity Shelter.

Since 2001, more than 200 artists from the UK and beyond have graced the one-day festival, raising nearly £29,000 for the charity.

Other big names to have graced the Audioscope stage include Young Knives, who went on to be nominated for the 2007 Mercury Prize, The Edmund Fitzgerald Band featuring Yannis Philippakis and Jack Bevan, who went on to form Foals, and London electronica star Four Tet. None of the bands are paid more than travel expenses and all proceeds go to Shelter.

The event is masterminded by Oxford music lovers Simon Minter and Stuart Fowkes.

Mr Fowkes, 36, said: “When we started out in 2001 with the idea to fill one day with as much amazing music as we could find, we didn’t even know there would be a second edition, let alone that we would be celebrating our 15th birthday.

“To have been able to present some of our all-time favourite artists from around the world and raise so much to fight homelessness at the same time is both an incredible achievement and a privilege for us.”

The very first Audioscope included rising Oxford stars such as Dustball, who became Dive Dive, some of whom now tour the world as backing musicians for Frank Turner.

Mr Fowkes said: “Firstly we try to bring bands that are different, which you wouldn’t normally get to see in Oxford.

“Secondly, Simon and I both have to be into the bands who play. Thirdly, of course, it is to make money for Shelter.”

In previous years the festival has been held at the Jericho Tavern in Walton Street but this year it has moved to East Oxford.

Saturday’s line-up will also feature the “hypnotic grooves” of Kogumaza and “necro-psych” Londoners Taman Shud.

At the quieter end of the spectrum, Thrill Jockey’s latest signing Dave Heumann will perform as part of his debut European solo tour with members of Trembling Bells and his former band Arbouretum.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness and lobbies governments over the issue.

Audioscope tickets are available now for £15 in advance from wegottickets.com/audioscope