This oddly warm week for the end of November is fitting to heat us up for a weekend of scorching good music on the roster. Be sure to check the community calendar for holiday music happenings along with the regular bar scene stuff. It’s that magical, mystical time of year where merry things appear at random times. Even elves and possibly polar bears might show up at a gig. You just never know.

Thursday kicks off with a nearly sold-out show (probably is by now) at the Legacy Theatre by 4 & 20 with Rogers & Nienhaus. Considered the top Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young tribute band in the country, consider yourself lucky if you’ve copped a ticket. But more importantly, the proceeds of the show go to benefit Debi Dyment, a positive person and friend to all, who was seriously injured in a tragic motorcycle accident last June. She’s paralyzed from the chest down, and with a long road ahead of surgery and therapy ahead, anything you can do to help is appreciated. If you’d like to aid Debi but can’t make the concert, please contact the show sponsors, Springfield’s WFC Foundation, on Facebook or at http://wfcfdn.com.

On Friday the Paris-Belle House Concerts presents the mind-blowin’, gut-wrenchin’, heart stoppin’, foot-stompin’ music of phenomenal acoustic guitarist Jim Hurst. Fans of Ann Bova’s Cabin Concert music series may remember seeing, hearing and experiencing Jim’s peculiar and particular passion for playing music at an extremely high level of energy and style. Along with his spectacular talent on the six string, Mr. Hurst is a fine singer, songwriter, entertainer and raconteur well-versed in making a concert fun, interesting and moving all at once. This guy has performed, recorded and toured with some of bluegrass and country music’s top artists, and in 2001 and 2002 he was named “Guitar Player of the Year” for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA). Yep, he’s pretty darn good. As usual for a house concert, you need to email ahead to reserve a spot ([email protected]), and all monies received go directly to the artist. Plus, this series is especially fun to attend early for the potluck and to mingle with the artist, hosts and attendees.

Boondocks brings on the cool country with two good shows this weekend. On Friday, Ward Davis, a Monticello, Arkansas, singersongwriter who moved to Nashville in 2000 and got cuts by Trace Adkins, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, among others, continues his fine ways of good songs done right. Davis is a believer in heartfelt music and does not believe the modern pop-country scene is good for much. Whiskey Myers takes the stage on Saturday with a rock-you attitude and a countrified twist that the seven-member band brings along as sure as a Sunday morning hangover from a killer Saturday night. Out in support of Mud (produced by Dave Cobb), the latest release from these DIY, long-haired, red dirt, East Texas country boys, they’re headed into town straight from classic venues such as Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa and Midnight Rodeo in Springfield, Missouri. Shane Smith & the Saints opens the show, so hang onto to your hats, all you cowboys and cowgirls.

Change is happening on the bar scene as Gary Best is moving on from his Koo Koo’s Nest location on east Sangamon. Off the Wall plays from 4 to 7 this Sunday at a blowout party to celebrate the good times had in the past and most likely more fun in the future. Our best to Gary Best as we look to see where the next nest will be made.

If that’s not enough, there’s even more happenings in the Pub Crawl listings.

Tom Irwin can be reached at [email protected].