With the right connections and a little money to burn, it seems as though just about anyone can make a record these days. But one thing that can’t be bought—as is painfully obvious on many of the latest records out there—is raw talent. If it seems like such an asset is quickly becoming a thing of the past, this is not the case with Austin singer/songwriter Brennen Leigh. A girl who’s a lot country and a little bit rock-and-roll, Leigh is currently being hailed as one of the genre’s brightest up-and-coming stars. Her third and most recent album, Devil’s on My Trail, is a true country effort filled with heartbreak, violence and straightforward God-fearing lyrics. She herself wrote ten of the 15 tracks featured on the record, a mix of Dolly Parton and Gram Parsons classic country from the 1960s and 1970s combined with her own modern touch. Although it took her and a team of about 20 people nearly a year to finish the record, it was time well spent, as this album has captured the very soul of her appeal. And if anyone doubts all the praise she’s received, take into consideration her 2004 tour with country legend Ralph Stanley, a momentous occasion she’ll probably be telling her grandkids about. Dee Adams opens the show.

Thursday, May 17 at 8pm Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St. (874-7734) www.sportsmenstavern.com. FREE