Dirt Road Radio, the harmony-happy alt-country band from North Stonington, has by design kept a relatively low profile over the years. Their music is a labor of love, after all — something to be enjoyed and savored amongst longtime pals, for the best possible reasons — rather than the fevered work of a group of youngsters driven to make it at all costs.

This maturity and sense of joy overflows on the new Dirt Road Radio release, "The Shadow of a Dream," which contains 15 superbly crafted songs by co-founding members Mike Scott and Dennis Walley. The band celebrates by performing Friday at a CD release party in Westerly's Perks 'n' Corks. Longtime DRR friends Ben and Nancy Parent will open the show. And look for a feature story on Dirt Road Radio in the Daybreak section of Friday's issue of The Day.

Dirt Road Radio CD Release Party, 9 p.m. Friday, Perks 'n' Corks, 62 High St., Westerly; free; (401) 596-1260.