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Rolling Stone and Sonesta Launch ‘Musicians on Musicians’ Tour with Charley Crockett and Noeline Hofmann in Austin

An intimate night of storytelling and Southern sound kicks off a five-city celebration of musical culture

Noeline Hofmann and Charley Crockett at the Rolling Stone and Sonesta "Musicians on Musicians," Austin held at The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel on March 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Koury Angelo for Rolling Stone)
Noeline Hofmann and Charley Crockett at the Rolling Stone and Sonesta "Musicians on Musicians," Austin held at The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel on March 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Koury Angelo for Rolling Stone)

Rolling Stone and Sonesta Hotels debuted their expanded “Musicians on Musicians” tour Monday night in Austin with a spirited and soulful evening featuring Grammy-nominated Texas troubadour Charley Crockett and rising Canadian country artist Noeline Hofmann.

Held inside a warmly lit ballroom at the Royal Sonesta Stephen F. Austin Hotel, the invitation-only event marked the first stop in a five-city series celebrating musical storytelling and artist-to-artist connection. Guests sipped champagne as Rolling Stone senior music editor Joseph Hudak hosted a lively conversation between the performers.

Noeline Hofmann performs at the Rolling Stone and Sonesta Musicians on Musicians, Austin held at The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel on March 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Koury Angelo for Rolling Stone)
Noeline Hofmann performs at the Rolling Stone and Sonesta “Musicians on Musicians,” Austin held at The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel on March 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Koury Angelo for Rolling Stone)

Canada meets Texas

Dressed in a fringe-embellished suede jacket with embroidered bull motifs and a flowing white skirt, Hofmann charmed the room with both her look and her lyrics. Calling her Alberta hometown “the Texas of Canada,” she leaned into the connection with a set that shifted effortlessly from Johnny Cash’s “Big River” to her own “August,” a dreamy, moonlit tune born from a night during a bluegrass camp in Saskatchewan.

Between songs, Hofmann shared stories from her teenage years, including saving up at 15 to travel to Morocco to perform, and spoke with reverence about late country artist Luke Bell before covering his song “The Bullfighter.”

Texas-based musician Charley Crockett performs at the Rolling Stone and Sonesta "Musicians on Musicians," Austin held at The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel on March 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Koury Angelo for Rolling Stone)
Texas-based musician Charley Crockett performs at the Rolling Stone and Sonesta “Musicians on Musicians,” Austin held at The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel on March 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Koury Angelo for Rolling Stone)

The $10 Cowboy

Crockett, introduced affectionately by Hudak as “the $10 cowboy,” celebrated his birthday and sported a Canadian tuxedo, tan cowboy hat, and boots. He recalled busking outside Austin’s Continental Club and handing out CDs on street corners—memories that framed his deep roots in Texas’ music scene. Playing an acoustic set, he pulled from his newest album “Lonesome Drifter” with outlaw charm and blues-infused grit, opening his set with “Night Rider.”

In conversation, Crockett reflected on authenticity and legacy, likening his approach to artists like Jimi Hendrix, who reimagined the past with a fresh voice. “My favorite artists have always been the ones that take something really old and do something totally new with it,” he said.

A Cajun-flavored cover of George Strait’s “Amarillo by Morning” paid tribute to songwriter Terry Stafford and showcased Crockett’s talent for reinterpreting country standards. “I like old music because it’s easy to remember the chords,” he added with a grin.

(From left) Noeline Hofmann, Charley Crockett and Joe Hudak chat at the Rolling Stone and Sonesta "Musicians on Musicians," Austin. (Photo by Koury Angelo for Rolling Stone)
(From left) Noeline Hofmann, Charley Crockett and Joe Hudak chat at the Rolling Stone and Sonesta “Musicians on Musicians,” Austin. (Photo by Koury Angelo for Rolling Stone)

Celebrating musical storytelling

Next up, the Musicians on Musicians series will head to New Orleans on May 8, followed by stops in Washington, D.C., New York City and Portland, Oregon. Each event features a unique pairing of artists and a focus on the musical heritage of the host city. In a press release, Rolling Stone CEO Gus Wenner underscored the purpose of the series: to give artists “a space to share their stories and mutual admiration.”

In Austin, that spirit rang loud and clear—through laughter, layered harmonies and a celebration of roots that stretch across state lines.

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