The Ampersands (USA band with Aaron McQuade and Jim Pace. 2 albums in the 2000s, after the other Ampersands was gone.)

There are two bands known as Ampersands:

1) The Ampersands was an Australian indie pop band from the early 90s. They have two full-length albums and two singles released on Harriet Records.

2) The Ampersands (this group) is an indie pop band founded by songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Aaron McQuade and Jim Pace. Their collaboration began in the mid-'90s when they were teenagers in Rhode Island, but the iteration known as the Ampersands formed in 2005. Working between Providence and New York City, the Ampersands released their first LP "And" in June 2008, co-produced by the band and Brooklyn's Bryce Goggin, who had also worked with bands including Pavement, the Apples in Stereo, Phish and the Lemonheads. Other musicians credited on the album are drummer Corrine Gonzalez and vocalist Evie Nagy.

The Ampersands' influences include XTC, Brian Wilson, the Association and the Beatles. Among contemporary bands, their sound has been compared to the the Apples in Stereo and other members of the Elephant Six collective, as well as the Flaming Lips.

In addition to writing, recording and performing with the Ampersands, McQuade has composed instrumental soundtracks for radio and television, winning a Telly Award in 2002 for his musical score for a Rhode Island statewide PSA in encouraging underwear donation to needy children.