Each year the Durango Blues Train’s sister event, the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival hosts Telluride Blues Challenge inviting undiscovered and unsigned solo blues talent to test their skills against a field of blues musicians. In addition to other prizes, the champion wins a spot on the following year’s Durango Blues Train. The 2018 Telluride Blues Challenge winner is Alex Paul and he is is set to perform on the May 31 and June 1 Durango Blues Train.