By Katherine Cole

All the rumors are true—-Prince is making his South By Southwest debut Saturday night!  The Purple One will be performing at what may end up as one of the most exclusive closing parties ever for the Austin, Texas event. He’ll be playing to a very intimate crowd of a few hundred contest winners. Electronics giant Samsung is funding the party, which will reportedly feature Prince and a 21-piece band.

Mashable was first with details of the secret show, which is open to 250 owners of the Samsung Galaxy phone and a small number of select SXSW badgeholders, all chosen by lottery.

I’d love to be able to tell you about it—but I didn’t win a seat!

The ticket lottery system is still not the norm for SXSW Music Festival shows, but we’re seeing more and more of the “select access” events each year. In 2012, tickets to a “secret” Bruce Sprinsteen concert were made available through a drawing open to  everyone with a Music badge (allowing access to all music conference activities), a Platinum badge (good for all Interactive/Film/Music events)  or a wristband (music conference shows only). And I was lucky enough to get a seat!

This year, more shows have been deemed “super special” and not everyone is eligible to enter the ticket lottery—only people who purchased Platinum or Music Badges can participate.  In addition to the Prince show, they are Depeche Mode, Green Day, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and the Sound City Players, featuring Dave Grohl, John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks and more.

No love for me here, either. I’m a big loser in the ticket lottery this year.

This is proving to be a busy SXSW week for Dave Grohl.  Wednesday, he screened his well received new documentary film “Sound City: Real to Real.” The film tells  story of the Van Nuys Studio City recording outfit that’s laid down tracks for  artists including Johnny Cash, Nine Inch Nails,  Neil Young,  and Nirvana, the band that made Grohl a household name.

Thursday, the musician delivered the festival’s keynote address, giving a speech that encouraged young artists to protect their creative visions–and follow their dreams. “There is no right or wrong – there is only your voice,” Grohl told the overflowing room. “Your voice singing through a laptop, your voice echoing from a street corner, a cello, a turntable, a guitar, serrato, a studer, It doesn’t matter. What matters most is that it’s YOUR VOICE. Cherish it. Respect it. Nurture it. Challenge it.”