Temecula Live! Country Music Review producers Gwyn Sanborn, Sandi Capel and Amie Charney want you to know that it's not your grandma's country you'll be hearing at their show, but they encourage you to bring her along. After all, it's for a good cause.

Temecula Live! hopes to provide the ultimate in family-friendly entertainment this weekend as the Opry-style show gallops into Old Town Community Theater for the second year in a row.

Solo vocalists and groups from all over the state will cover contemporary country tunes by popular artists like Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride, as well as showcase their own original music, some for the first time on a professional stage.

Thought to be the only show of its kind in Southern California, the review has its roots firmly planted in the Inland Empire. Temecula resident Sanborn, executive producer and original mastermind of the event, needed an outlet for her vocal students to exhibit their skills but had trouble finding suitable venues in the area.

"There was no place for my students to perform," she said. "You've got karaoke and that's it. I said let's do a show to give (local artists) a chance to get out there and show what they can do."

After solidifying her idea with friend and band mate Capel, the ladies enlisted theater veteran Amie Charney to serve as Creative Director. Now a trio, three became the partners' lucky number.

"This year we actually tripled everything," Charney said. "We tripled our auditions and over 100 people from all over Southern California came and auditioned. We tripled the number of shows. We certainly tripled the time we spent on it."

Each of the three jam-packed performances this year boasts a unique lineup.

"Each show is different, each show has its own flavor," Charney said. "They all have rocking big sound, but our Friday night show has more of our original musicians; more singer-songwriters."

In addition to debut acts, some of last year's favorite artists will greet returning concertgoers. Fifteen-year-old Hayley Stayner is thrilled to part of the excitement once again.

"Last year it was an amazing experience," she said. "It was so much fun."

Although the review was created to give local artists an opportunity to perform publicly, special guests like the Mill Creek Boys, a classic bluegrass band complete with fiddle and banjo, country-rock artists Salt Creek and Southern rockers Southwind are also featured among others. For the tween and teen set, Saturday evening's show will include Joelle James, an "American Idol" top 40 finalist and the recipient of numerous awards for supporting charitable causes like this one.

All the shows do share one constant. The Ranch Rockers, a country-rock band in which Sanborn and Capel are both members, will serve as the house band for all three performances.

As an added bonus, a cast of crazy characters will entertain the audience with comedy sketches between musical numbers. The skits will weave a storyline throughout the show as well as give the technical crew ample time to move equipment on and off stage.

"It gives us the opportunity to stage a seamless show," Charney said.

Last year's review was wildly successful, but the organizers were overwhelmed by the amount of time and effort involved in producing a show of its caliber. It wasn't until a chance meeting would they consider giving it another go.

While attending church, Charney began chatting with Tammy Wilson, CEO of the Oak Grove School. Oak Grove is a nonprofit 24-hour residential and educational treatment center which houses students with special needs including victims of physical or sexual abuse, those who come from dysfunctional families or suffer from other emotional trauma, all causing them to experience social challenges. Because research has shown that these children and adolescents respond favorably to exposure to the creative arts, Wilson's goal was the development of the Oak Grove Center for Education Treatment and the Arts.

"Arts provide healing and opportunities beyond what many of our kids ever thought possible," Wilson said. "They also bond with other students and adults, forming positive relationships."

The marrying of this cause to their show was just the motivation the women needed to commit to another year of the painstakingly long hours of planning.

"The idea enhanced what we were doing already, especially with teaching students," Sanborn said. "So it was a perfect match."

It was Capel's responsibility to handle the finances and she was determined to donate as much money as possible to Oak Grove's program.

"After expenses, all the profits go to Oak Grove. We are doing everything we possibly can to save money," she said. "We spent only $100 on the set. Everything else, all the time and materials, was donated."

As an additional way to contribute, Oak Grove is offering a Saturday barbecue dinner to accompany the show, including homestyle fare like tri-tip and chicken, potato salad, baked beans, cornbread and apple pie. The $63 admission price includes dinner and a ticket to a Saturday performance as well as a special surprises like a student art show and live music. Dinner packages can only be purchased through the school.

Whether you are an avid country music fan or just want to help students expand their social and developmental boundaries, the Temecula Live! Country Music Festival promises not to disappoint.

"It's just one of those shows that you don't know what to expect when you walk in the door," Sanborn said. "Then you leave just thrilled that you went."

Temecula Live! Country Music Review

When: 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula

Tickets: $22; $63 for Saturday's barbecue dinner and show

Info: (866) 653-8696