By Rebecca Hamilton

Monks Coffee Shop will present its first show of the semester Friday with a performance by local bands, Words in Windows and Blinded by Bears. The Red Airplanes will also make an appearance.

Words in Windows and Blinded by Bears have performed at Monks in the past, but this will be The Red Airplanes’ first time in Abilene, a band hailing from Beaumont. The group played at the Spirit West Coast Tour last summer, along with several big names in Christian music, such as Mercy Me, The David Crowder Band and BarlowGirl. The band played with Words in Windows in a past tour and this connection brought them to Abilene, said Silas Acosta, booking agent at Monks.

The show will double as a CD release party for Words in Windows, featuring their new album Balloons, now available on iTunes. The band’s MySpace page describes its new album as “a mix of sonic textures that bring depth without compromising the space in which their music thrives.”

“Words in Windows would describe their style as indie worship,” said Acosta. “It’s subtle worship; not mainstream and not a youth rally.”

Doors open at 7 p.m., and a $5 cover will be charged. Bands will start playing at 8 p.m.

Monks also hosts an Open Mic Night every Thursday from 9:30 p.m. until midnight and welcomes all students to perform. Acosta said Open Mic Night has picked up since school started, bringing college students back to town.

“The great thing about shows at Monks is that you don’t have to go to a bar to hear good music, and you are supporting the downtown scene,” Acosta said. “You don’t even feel like you’re in Abilene.”