Not very many festivals can match the power that SXSW brings. When you combine some of the world’s top tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs with some of the best musical acts on the planet, the only thing you can get is excellence. Here at Chevy, we got to see the best of both worlds, and we were able to bring events and programs to the festival with a great response from all of you.

We kicked things off with a Roadtrip consisting of 10 teams from all over the country (as well as two from Canada). Along the way the teams completed challenges raising money for Adopt A Classroom. Team Autofollow took the gold medal and all the teams celebrated together when they arrived in Austin.

Close to 1000 people took a Chevy for a spin during SXSW. We had Volt’s, Camaros, Corvettes, and Cruze’s available. We gave more than 11,000 people rides around the city in our Chevy Cruzes and had 7,000 visitors to our Volt Lounge, and we’re pretty proud to have shared the whole experience with everyone who came out.

Speaking of Catch A Chevy: did you get to talk much to your driver? We featured one of drivers, Crystal Meeker, in a blog post at www.sxsw.com/chevy. Crystal gave us some inside information on what people were confessing during their Cruze ride, and even told us about how she dropped a couple off at a wedding on 12th Street.

Chevy was also covering the SXSWi panels, keeping up with the new trends, and interviewing celebrities and influencers. We learned about gamification, interviewed Romany Malco about his SXSW experience, talked to Tony Hsieh on his Happiness Bus and met with Dane Cook to hear more about his new movie. 

We also met a ton of new people through our other events at SXSW. We held our first-ever Indie Showcase this year and were glad to host Reptar, The Kickback, The Hounds Below, NewVillager, Dinosaur Feathers and Black Cards at Maggie Mae’s on Sixth Street. Our goal was to not miss a beat and we hope you didn’t either!

Our Chevy Volt Recharge Lounge stayed open every day during all of the excitement of the festival, so we hope you had at least a little bit of time to hang out and recharge with us. We were lucky enough to have a few guests drop in for a while, too. Chamillionaire shared with us his thoughts on tech and music in today’s industry, and Eisley gave us some details on the history of the band and their love for music.

Finally, Chevrolet wrapped up the entire festival with our Chevy SXSW Music Showcase at Stubb’s Saturday night. We brought in two big-name bands, Panic! At the Disco and The Bravery, alongside Electric Touch, Tres Mts. and AWOLNATION. According to Pandora CTO Tom Conrad, it was “the best show of the week.” We were also able to catch up backstage with all the bands, so visit our YouTube page to check out exclusive interviews.

So this is it, SXSW. It’s time to pack up the Catch A Chevy fleet and head back to Detroit. We’re saying good-bye this year and looking forward to next year at the same time. Thanks for coming out, we had a blast!

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Ready for one of the biggest, most-talked-about events of this year’s South by Southwest? It all happens after our Chevy Showcase on Saturday night. Head on over to VEVO Presents: G.O.O.D. Music showcase at the Seaholm Power Plant steps away from Downtown Austin.

It’s going to be a night you won’t forget. Just check out the lineup:

• Kanye
• Kid Cudi
• John Legend
• CyHi the Prynce
• Mos Def
• Big Sean
• Common
• Pusha T
• Mr. Hudson

For more celebs at the show, step out front and see our stunning Corvette, Camaro and Cruze.

So, stay up late – as if we have to tell the SX crow that. Hope to see you tonight! Tweet us @Chevrolet if you’re there!

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South by Southwest (SXSW) is one heck of a festival. It’s all panels, all movies, all music and all parties – all the time. It’s no wonder many local Austinites make it a point to steer clear of the whole downtown area.

One of our favorite parts of SXSW is moving out of the Convention Center and away from the crowded venues toward Auditorium Shores at Lady Bird Lake Park.

While located near the heart of the city, it’s a river away from the conference and tends to bring out more of the locals.

For the past two nights, folks have joined us for a free, outdoor concert! We’ve be set up at Auditorium Shores, off Riverside Drive, on:

• Thursday, March 17 (evening)
• Friday, March 18 (evening)
• Saturday, March 19 (afternoon)

There will be food vendors, incredible live music, and the best view of the city. Afterward, Catch A Chevy around downtown to see all the excitement around SXSW Music as it takes over the city.

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South by Southwest is coming to a close, but not without a final showcase of some of the hottest bands in today’s new music scene. Chevrolet wants to be your host for the last night of SXSW by bringing The Bravery and Panic! at the Disco to our Chevy Showcase stage.

We’ll also have:

• AWOLNATION
• Tres Mts
• Electric Touch

Join us for the Chevy Showcase on Saturday, March 19th from 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. at the Waller Creek Amphitheater in Stubb’s Restaurant (Red River Street near 8th Street). Looking forward to seeing you there!

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South by Southwest music isn’t just about leather and rock. The music festival kicked off on Thursday with a keynote from Irish singer-songwriter and author, Bob Geldof. Following his thought-provoking commentary on music and culture, we spotted none other than Grammy Award winning rapper Chamillionaire, hanging out in the Volt Recharge Lounge.

In true nice-guy fashion, the Houston-based artist and avid tweeter talked music and social media with Shira Lazar. Afterwards, he hung out to chat and snap pics with fans. How much more authentic can you get? SXSW music is off to a good start!

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Ever seen the Glam Cam at award shows, and wanted a taste of that glamorous life? Well now’s your chance. SXSW attendees are showing their wild side with the new Sonic at the Interactive Trade Show. We’re fully equipped with props of all shapes and sizes—boas, cowboy hats, tutus, guitars… you name it. Even our Sonic is dressed up for the occasion! Check out all the photos and rate your favorites!

We’ve seen all kinds of jumps, kicks, and proper stances so far. How would you pose? Swing by, get a glimpse of the all-new Sonic, and show us yourself!

Want more Chevy at SXSW?  Follow the #ChevySXSW hashtag on Twitter, head over to Facebook.com/Chevrolet, or browse over to sxsw.com/Chevrolet.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Are you the person who keeps your ears open for the newest music? Do you live to be able to say, "I saw them when..."? So does Chevy, which is why we've rounded up six incredible indie artists for one night of eclectic performances. It's like a mix tap – only better.

Let Chevrolet be your guide through a night of music for our Chevy Indie Showcase tomorrow, Wednesday, March 16th. 

Here's the lineup we'll have on our stage:

• Black Cards
• Reptar
• Dinosaur Feathers
• The Hounds Below
• New Villager
• The Kickback

This is what SXSW music is all about! Join us tomorrow from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Maggie Mae's rooftop on 6th street for the ultimate SX experience, #ChevySXSW style!

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One of our main activations here at SXSW is Drive a Chevy, which allows anyone and everyone to test out their dream Chevys. We’ve got Corvettes, Camaros, Volts and Cruzes, at the ready for your enjoyment. So the question is—which would you drive?

Would it be the all-new electric Volt? That’s what Cheryl Massey chose, at least. “I’ve been hearing about this car for a few months now, and dying to know what it’s actually like in reality. It’s even better than I expected—smooth ride, lots of pick-up.”

Of course, there’s really no reason to pick just one. Just ask Mark Smith, who took a joyride in both the Corvette and the Camaro this morning. According to Mark, you simply can’t drive just one—“You’ve gotta compare the two!”

So what’d he think?  “The Camaro’s awesome—a ton of power. And that red Corvette… it’s perfect.” But at the end of the day, he just couldn’t choose between the two powerhouse cars. “I guess I’ll just have to get them both, and flip a coin each morning to decide which one to drive. Every day would be a win!”

Two all-American sports cars, ready and waiting in driveway every day? Now that sounds like the American dream.

Want more Chevy at SXSW?  Follow the #ChevySXSW hashtag on Twitter, head over to Facebook.com/Chevrolet, or browse over to sxsw.com/Chevrolet.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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As part of Chevrolet’s effort to add value to the SXSW experience, you’ve probably seen a few of our Chevy team members around Austin wearing navy blue t-shirts with big, red nametags on the front. Maybe you bumped into them near the Catch A Chevy or Drive A Chevy spots on Trinity. Maybe you’ve both stood in the same food truck line, or maybe Tweeting each other throughout the day.

One of the things Chevrolet’s been most excited about is being able to interact with attendees in places like the Registration Lounge and IFC Crossroads House, and our experiences have been great so far. And they’re great because of you.

It’s because of the talent and creativity that SXSW brings together that we get ideas to create programs like Catch A Chevy. And we knew people would be stoked about the Volt Lounge again because we saw how much you used it last year, too. And the best part? We feel like we’ve brought the same experience back again this year even better than we did it last year. And it’s thanks to you!

You can stay connected to us by tweeting @Chevrolet, commenting on Facebook.com/Chevrolet, or by using #ChevySXSW. And, most importantly, feel free to talk with one of us in our navy blue shirts. The reason we came was to enhance the experience you’re already having and we’d love to hear more about how we can help.

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Chevrolet wants to make your SXSW experience better. We’ve brought you interviews with movie stars and interactive leaders. We’ve let you know how to get to the front of the line for movies. So, after a few days of SXSWi, panel overload is setting in for a few folks. If you are still trying to squeeze a little more out of SXSW, Chevrolet wants to make you aware of a quick option to take in all of it.

Future15. Fifteen minutes (yes, the speakers are kept to that) of concentrated talks on mobile, technology, innovation, etc. The set-up is simple—each talk features one speaker who gets twelve minutes of uninterrupted time. Slides are shown,and then it’s over. Just in time for the speaker to hand off the microphone, talk to any attendees who have questions, and get the next speaker prepped.

The speakers are grouped together by theme. So you can sit down for a talk on mobile and hear several different perspectives on the subject. So when David Berkowitz from 360i speaks at 1:00 on NFC and RFID, the next speaker at 1:15 is Alex Hachey from Mingrub Technologies speaking about a LBS game where the next evolution of the game will involve NFC. 

So, if you are tired or just trying to grab one last panel before you leave Austin, you might look at the Future15 talks in the SXSW schedule.

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Need a break from your hectic SXSW schedule? Join us in the Volt Recharge Lounge for a fun-filled game of Kinect Joy Ride on the new Microsoft Kinect. 

With all the awesome gaming at this years conference, we wanted to combine something from the gaming and interactive world with your real-world SXSW experience. 

The Kinect Joy Ride features many customizable cars, but the real standout is the Chevy Volt. First, take a digital spin the all-new Chevy Volt, then after the game head outside to Drive A Chevy  to experience the real deal. 

The Kinnect is easy to play because your body is the remote. If you’ve never played a Kinect feel free to ask a staff member for help. They know the tips and tricks to give you a winning advantage. 

Now grip that imaginary steering wheel and hold on tight as you navigate the Chevy Volt around every virtual turn. 

Come by the Volt Lounge (at the Austin Convention Center) between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day of SXSW Music, Film and Interactive to get your game on with the Volt. 

And be sure to follow #ChevySXSW on Twitter and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Chevrolet. If you liked this post, you’ll find more in depth SXSW posts on sxsw.com/Chevrolet. 

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Chevrolet appreciates a good design, and has for over 100 years.  Just look outside the Austin Convention Center during SXSW to get a glimpse of the sleek, quality design injected into the all-American classic car, the Camaro Convertible. 

That’s why it made sense for Chevrolet to partner with with MoFilm and Webtrends  in supporting good film poster design. If you head down past the Chevy Volt Recharge Charge Lounge (not towards the registration area, but along 4th street), you’ll find a bevy of great film posters hung three high against the walls. 

MoFIlm, in association with Webtrends, is hosting the SXSW Film Design Awards and poster gallery where the top posters are recognized for their good design.  

The posters range in type and size, from full size theatrical feature films to smaller documentaries (you might even notice one of the documentary subjects standing by their picture to capture their ‘movie’ premiere.)

Want more Chevy at SXSW?  Follow the #ChevySXSW hashtag on Twitter, head over to Facebook.com/Chevrolet, or browse over to sxsw.com/Chevrolet. 

See the full gallery on Posterous

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SXSW 2010 was all about the check-in. Where you checked-in and what you checked-in with. And for SXSW 2011, really, nothing has changed. Except, folks are just now getting true rewards for checking-in.

Check-in at Chevy SXSW locations (Chevy Volt Recharge Lounge, Catch A Chevy), show the check-in to the Volt Recharge Lounge Staff, and you might be surprised with what you'll get. The check-in is your choice; use Gowalla or Facebook Places, it doesn't matter to Chevy.

Different check-ins receive different prizes. A Gowalla leader board user gets a coffee gift card, and the first 30 check-ins get a water bottle.

But Chevy isn't the only one giving away real-life rewards. Austin-based Gowalla is set-up on 5th and Trinity in their Airstream (which they pulled to Sundance Film Fest with a bright red Silverado HD) handing out Gowalla tees to those who check -in.

So check-in to win and be sure to follow #ChevySXSW on Twitter, like Facebook.com/Chevrolet, or just visit sxsw.com/Chevrolet.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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As social media continues to grow and flourish, other aspects of daily life are adapting right along with it—entertainment, communication, and yes, even transportation.

In Saturday’s “It’s Not TV, It’s Social TV” panel, the five participants (including Chloe Sladden from Twitter, Fred Graver from The Travel Channel, Gavin Purcell from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Lila King from CNN iReport, and Timothy Shey from Next New Networks) discussed how social media has changed the entertainment landscape. How does Twitter get viewers more interested? How does it get viewers to actually watch liveagain? Turns out, Twitter has done wonders for the TV industry. Sladden used a graphic displaying “Jersey Shore” tweets, with massive peaks during the live premieres of the show each week. The reason, she says, is because viewers enjoy the conversations that happen amongst fans during the premieres, that they can’t participate in with time-shifted viewings.

Graver had similar findings when he convinced Anthony Bourdain to live-tweet during the premiere of his show “No Reservations” on The Travel Channel. Purcell used the example of Jimmy Fallon’s “Late Night Hashtag” sketch, in which Fallon tweets a new hashtag each week, and reads the best fan responses on air.

Interestingly enough, Chevrolet has been experimenting with social technologies as well, adding a layer of connectivity between vehicle and driver. In the latest fleet of Chevrolet vehicles, drivers can access their Facebook newsfeed using their OnStar within the vehicle. What will they think of next?

Want more Chevy at SXSW?  Follow the #ChevySXSW hashtag on Twitter, head over to Facebook.com/Chevrolet, or browse sxsw.com/Chevrolet.

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We spotted Mary Henige (@maryhenige), Director of Social Media and Digital Communications for GM, in the Volt Lounge yesterday, and jumped on the opportunity to get her thoughts on thsi whole SXSW thing.

Any the best aprt of Chevy's presence at the festival? "Right here in the Volt Recharge Lounge," Mary declared. "It's so great to be providing a real value to the people at this conference, and to see them to be truly grateful for our presence here."

And grateful they are. Check out some of the awesome tweets we've seen about the Volt Lounge so far!

See the full gallery on Posterous

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As those of you in Austin have probably seen, one of Chevy’s largest activations here at SXSW is Catch A Chevy, a free, taxi-like service that shuttles conference attendees from place to place. Sometimes, the best part of catching a cab can be the interesting conversations to be had with the drivers—and Catch A Chevy is no different. Today, we met Crystal Meeker, one of the drivers in those Cruzes you’ve been seeing all over Austin. 
   
So what kind of people has she meet during her trips around downtown Austin? Not surprisingly, lots of high-tech and social media folks. “I’ve been hearing a lot of things about the iPad 2, and most people are really into social media… it’s been very interesting to hear what everybody says, and all their contributions as far as different iPhone applications and things they’ve created.”

But, we’re much more interested in the unusual than the common stuff, so we wanted to know—where’s the strangest place someone has asked Crystal to take them? And believe it or not, her answer was: “A wedding on 12th street. Someone was actually getting married during SXSW.”

So next time you’re hopping a ride with Chevy, ask a question or two—who knows what kinds of things your driver has seen or heard!

Want more Chevy at SXSW?  Follow the #ChevySXSW hashtag on Twitter, head over to Facebook.com/Chevrolet, or browse over to sxsw.com/Chevrolet.

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SXSW attendees have a prime opportunity to test out all the newest, coolest Chevys on the block, right here in downtown Austin.

Curious about the new Chevy Cruze? Give it a spin. Wondering what all this chatter over the all new Volt is about? Well, come on by, and see it for yourself. Always wanted a cherry red Corvette? Come give ‘er a shot.

If you’ve got a special Chevy in mind that you’d like to give a spin around the town, swing by 4^th and Trinity, sign up, and even get a free T-shirt. See you soon! 

Want more Chevy at SXSW?  Follow the #ChevySXSW hashtag on Twitter, head over to Facebook.com/Chevrolet, or browse over to sxsw.com/Chevrolet.

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This is simple. Do you need a recharge? Then come connect with Chevy at the Volt Recharge Lounge and get plugged-in. For the duration of the SXSW festival, Chevrolet will have the Volt Lounge open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday.

Chevrolet has Powermats available. Ask one of our staff members how they work!

Want to drive the Volt? You can with the Kinect in the Lounge. Or just head out to Drive A Chevy for an IRL test drive.

Be sure to follow all things Chevrolet at SXSW with the #ChevySXSW hashtag, checking up on Facebook.com/Chevrolet, or just going to sxsw.com/Chevrolet.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Thursday’s panel on the future of automotive technology, lead by Vice President of Business Development for OnStar, Nick Pudar, covered everything from infotainment to cloud computing. His fellow panelists, Jessica Steel, from Pandora, and Joe Berry, consultant for Verizon, offered their own unique insights into the technological advancements being made in the auto industry. From cars that tweet to cars that stream Pandora from the Internet, the panel made it clear that cars are more connected than ever—and it’s only the beginning. The mantra of the night was, “We’re just warming up—the first inning hasn’t even started.”

With all the things OnStar is already capable of doing, like reading Facebook posts aloud to its drivers and stolen-vehicle assist, just imagine what they’ll come up with when the first inning starts.

Be sure to follow all things Chevrolet at SXSW with the #ChevySXSW hashtag, checking up on Facebook.com/Chevrolet, or just going to sxsw.com/Chevrolet.

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Well, it was a long, adventure-filled three days for our 10 Roadtrip teams, but at long last, they made it to Austin last night. They were welcomed to a rooftop party in downtown Austin, complete with  tasty food, custom drinks and a lot of excitement. After some mixing, mingling and putting faces with names, it was time for the big reveal. After completing 11 challenges in three days and two sleepless nights, the teams were eager and ready to find out who won the whole thing. But unbeknownst to them, we had a little something up our sleeve.

We understood all the time, thought and effort that these teams poured into their challenges. So instead of rushing our judges to score 20 challenges in less than an hour, we wanted to give them that same thought and effort in return. So we extended the scoring deadline until… right now. So what do ya say… ready to hear the winners? The ballots are in, and the winner is…

Team Auto Follow (Toronto)!

Here’s your top 3:

1. Team Auto Follow
2. Team Cbus
3. SX Chi Girls

And what exactly did they win?

First Place: Badges for SXSW 2011

Second Place: Aftermarket OnStar installation and a full year of service on all team members’ vehicles

And  for all the teams, Chevrolet is matching their $200 donations to Adopt-a-Classroom, to the teacher of their choice. 

For the full list of scores, click here. 

Big thanks to all our diligent judges, and of course, our roadtrippers—we had such a great time following your adventures. We hope you did too! 

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