Avantdale Bowling Club Awarded Taite Music Prize 2019

Auckland's Tom Scott (Homebrew) has been awarded the prestigious Taite Music Prize for his hip hop / jazz project Avantdale Bowling Club's landmark self-titled debut album – announced at a presentation ceremony last night at Q Theatre. Scott's socially conscious and genre-bending collection featured contributions from a huge cast of local all-stars, including Julien Dyne, Guy Harrison, Tom Dennison, Mara TK, Ben McNicoll, JY Jong-Yun Lee, Christoph El Truento, Haz Beats, Teeks, Finn Scholes, Cory Champion, Isaac Aesili, John Bell, and Jeremy Toy. 

Presented by Independent Music NZ (IMNZ), the Taite Music Prize is named after legendary New Zealand music journalist Dylan Taite and celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. The prize has long been considered to be a critics' choice award that "recognises outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one recording," bestowing a cash prize of $10,000, plus recording time at Red Bull Studios Auckland and a year’s supply of Red Bull product upon the recipient.

Tom Scott's Avantdale Bowling Club record was one of ten nominees for the coveted award. The lineup of artists in the running included Alien Weaponry, Jonathan Bree, Julia Deans, Marlon Williams, Mel Parsons, Tami Neilson, The Beths, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Wax Chattels.

Alongside the main prize, three additional awards were presented. The Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award was awarded to Alien Weaponry for their debut album Tū, the previously announced Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award went to Moana and the Moahunters' pioneering 1993 debut album TAHI, and the debut Independent Spirit Award in recognition of "a New Zealand person who assists our NZ musicians to grow and find their own unique pathways" was presented by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to Auckland songwriting icon and industry legend Bernie Griffen.

Watch Tom Scott's acceptance speech, Jacinda Ardern's presentation speech for the Independent Spirit Award, and performances from last night's ceremony by Moana and the Tribe, Alien Weaponry and Merk below courtesy of Radio NZ...