Avantdale Bowling Club

Avantdale Bowling Club is the project of Tom Scott, one of the most compelling figures to emerge from the New Zealand hip-hop scene over the last fifteen years. In that time, he’s honed his skills as a rapper, songwriter and bandleader through membership in several cult groups – Home Brew, @Peace and Average Rap Band.

Written from a working-class perspective at the bottom of the globe, Avantdale Bowling Club’s songs explore the day-to-day realities of life lived on the margins of society. Over the course of two albums, Tom has worked with some of the best musicians and producers in New Zealand to craft a vivid intermingling of jazz, soul, hip-hop and electronica.

Sad and celebratory in equal measure, Scott’s work has been celebrated by NPR, Refuge Worldwide and Radio New Zealand. ‘Avantdale Bowling Club’ won the coveted Album of the Year and best Hip-Hop artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards followed by Independent Music NZ’s Taite Music Prize for best album release. At the end of 2022
the folllow-up ‘Trees’ debuted at number 1 in the New Zealand album charts.