Tart Vandelay

We can supply our own sound system, which includes: 2 mic stands, mic/speaker/instrument cables, 1 speaker stand, 1 large speaker for amplification, 1 floor monitor speaker, 1 mixing board, 1 guitar amp, 2 microphones (1 Sennheisser E935 and 1 Shure SM58).

Our instrumentation can be any combination of the following based on your needs: female vocals, male backing vocals, vocal harmonies, acoustic or electric guitar, ukulele, hand percussion (shaker, tambourine, clave, guiro), keyboard/synthesizer, electronic instrumentation via Ableton Live on our laptop (drum beats, swells, transitions, sound effects, soundscapes, more expansive arrangements for a much bigger sound than an acoustic setup), kazoo.

Available setup combinations:
1) Kate singing and performing with acoustic ukulele solo
2) Kate and Marty performing as an acoustic duo, Kate singing and playing ukulele, Marty singing backing vocals and playing guitar
3) Marty performing acoustic guitar solo
4) Kate and Marty performing as an electronic duo, Kate singing vocals and Marty performing electronic instrumentation via Ableton Live and electric guitar
5) Kate officiates your wedding ceremony, no background music
6) Kate officiates your wedding ceremony and Marty plays acoustic guitar background music while your guests file in and out of the ceremony
7) Kate and Marty perform cover songs live at your reception (acoustic)
8) Kate and Marty perform original songs live at your reception (mix of acoustic and electronic)
9) Kate and Marty DJ your reception by playing a playlist through our amplified sound system
(we are open to other combinations too, just let us know what you're looking for and we'll make it happen!)

Types of Music We Play:
Our original alternative pop music (visit our website to listen: (link hidden))
Pop Covers ranging from the 1950's to the 2000's (Martha & The Vandellas, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, etc.)
Classic Rock Covers (Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, etc.)
Soft Rock Covers (Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox Twenty, Vertical Horizon, etc.)
Indie/Alternative Covers (The Shins, Death Cab For Cutie, Mac DeMarco, etc.)
R&B/Soul Covers (Sam & Dave, Marvin Gay, The Temptations, etc.)
Curated Playlists (DJ services, you can choose the music or we can, and we play it over the sound system)

Types of Music We Don't Play:
Country
Folk
Hard Rock
Metal
Hip-Hop

Five qualities we can bring to the table:
1) Friendly, welcoming atmosphere
2) High quality sound system
3) Adaptable to formal or casual scenarios
4) Professional demeanor
5) FUN - we love what we do and it shows!

Tart Vandelay is an Indie Pop duo based in Los Angeles, CA. Formed in 2014, the group consists of vocalist Katie Halligan and guitarist/producer Marty LoFaso. The duo began making music together while they were students in Boston before moving back to their hometown of Rochester, NY in 2015.
Once back in Rochester, they began touring and performing in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions, including trips over the border to Canada. During this time the group experimented with a jazz-pop sound while expanding to include a rhythm section and performing as a quartet.
In the spring of 2018, Halligan and LoFaso decided to begin incorporating more electronic elements into their sound and returned to their roots as a duo. To finalize their first chapter as a group, Tart Vandelay released the “Janus” EP on May 31st 2019, just before relocating to Phoenix, AZ. The duo spent the year 2020 refining their new electronic sound, and released several singles throughout 2021. Halligan and LoFaso have been particularly busy in 2022, getting married, relocating to Los Angeles, and releasing their hottest new single “R U Mine?” all within the first half of the year. Currently, Tart Vandelay is writing and recording fresh material, booking performances for 2023, and making new friends in Los Angeles.

Artist Core Story:
As individuals, we both had to overcome challenges in order to be together as a couple, but our love for each other kept us going strong. The same story relates to our music. We’ve had to overcome personal and professional barriers in order to pursue music, but it’s our love for music that keeps us pushing forward. It is now our mission to help improve other peoples’ lives through our music, one song at a time.