What Does ‘Keep Austin Weird’ Actually Mean? The Hidden Slogan Explained

If you’re looking for a party city in Central Texas, I always suggest the capital—Austin, Texas. Austin hosts some of the best music festivals like SXSW. It’s notorious for its well-known party street filled with bars and good times—Sixth Street—and the city’s slogan is “Keep Austin Weird.” Great music, great food, and keeping things weird… how could you not want to party in this city?

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How Did The Capitol Of Texas Earn The Term "Weird" ?

At one point, though, “Keep Austin Weird” wasn’t always the city’s identity. According to KXAN, the term is only about 25 years old. Red Wassenich, an Austin Community College librarian, created the phrase when he called in to make a donation to KOOP Radio—this comes from the Austin History Center archives. The show he donated to was The Lounge Show, a weekly program hosted by Jay Robillard that played offbeat music. That offbeat vibe inspired Wassenich to describe Austin as “weird.”

Just Like That, Austin Texas  " Keep Austin Weird Was Born"

In a 2002 interview with The New York Times, Wassenich explained how the phrase unfolded. When the radio station asked him why he supported the show, he simply replied, “I don’t know. It helps… keep Austin weird.” That small statement ended up shaping the culture of the city. Wassenich even began printing bumper stickers—many of which you can still spot around Austin today.

The story of how Austin earned its “weird” label is actually pretty cool and unique… but isn’t that the perfect example of what it means to keep Austin weird?