The Afters are talented musicians and songwriters with a hit song that continues to ride high on the Christian music charts, and they're coming to the 2012 Merced County Fair.

The Afters will perform Opening Day, Wednesday, June 13, in the fairgrounds' Outdoor Theatre.

The Afters' current hit, "Light Up The Sky," the title song from their latest album, is ranked No. 7 on Billboard's Christian Songs charts this week after 40 weeks on the charts. The band's other hits include "Lift Me Up," "Start Over," "Ocean Wide," "Never Going Back to OK" and "Beautiful Love."

The rest of the entertainment line-up for the fair’s run – Wednesday, June 13 through Sunday, June 17 – will be announced soon. Each night a headline entertainment act will appear at 8:30 p.m. in the fairgrounds’ Outdoor Theatre, where all concerts are free with admission.

The "Light Up The Sky" album is a fresh start for this band. They held onto their passion for making music and their faith after losing their longtime friend and manager to cancer, followed by the departure of two band members. Founding band members, Matt Fuqua (vocals/guitar) and Josh Havens (lead vocals/keyboards/guitar) are now playing with new members Dan Ostebo (bass) and Jordan Mohilowski (drums).

"Light Up The Sky" is a bit of a departure from the grunge rock of the band's debut music, and the current album leans more toward pop. But having their music categorized doesn't bother The Afters. "I don't really even think about it," said Fuqua. "I think about a lot of things like 'What is my responsibility to the poor (and the) hungry as a Christian?' I think, 'Am I being a faithful husband and father?' And I hope that focus and love is felt in our songs and that those will be the things that define us."

The Afters' song "Light Up The Sky" was No. 1 on both Christian Contemporary Hit Radio and Alternative Christian Radio and No. 22 on Billboard's Top Christian Songs of 2010. Rhapsody.com and Gospel Music Channel online named "Light Up the Sky" a favorite album of 2010.

"Never Going Back To OK" received a 2009 GMA (Gospel Music Association) DOVE award for Rock Contemporary Album of the Year. "Never Going Back to OK" entered the Billboard Top 200 at No. 41 and the Contemporary Christian charts at No. 1 and reached No. 14 on the iTunes overall Top Album chart and No. 4 on the Rock Top Albums chart.

The Afters' songs have been used in many TV shows, movies and ad campaigns. "Never Going Back To OK" was selected by Grammy Award-winning producer and American Idol judge Randy Jackson to be on the film soundtrack of "Secrets of the Mountain," that included songs by Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

"Light Up The Sky" was in "The Hills" (MTV) and "The Biggest Loser" finale (NBC); "Start Over" is on the movie soundtrack, "New Year's Eve"; "Ocean Wide" has been featured in "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC) and "Army Wives'" (Lifetime); "Never Going Back to OK" and "We Are The Sound" were played in American Idol (Fox) promo spots and "Beautiful Love" has been used in promotions from American Eagle stores to American Airlines in-flight videos.

For The Afters, the band that started out as four friends working together at a Starbucks in Mesquite, Texas, it feels like they've come full circle and are enjoying the process more than ever. "God brought us through," Fuqua said. "(He) has really restored the excitement and life we had when we were kids making music for fun at the coffee shop."

Presented by the 35th District Agricultural Association, the 121st annual fair's theme is "Cows Just Wanna Have Fun!" For more information call (209)722-1507, fax at (209) 722-3773, or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com. Visit the Fair’s website, www.MercedCountyFair.com and connect with us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.