Did you hear the one about the new comedy club opening in Fredericton?

Comedy clubs are a staple in big cities across the country, but until now New Brunswick's capital city didn't have one.

Kelly Lamrock, the province's child and youth advocate by day and stand-up comedianby night, said a new club, the Comic Sutra, willbe a place thatpeople can always count on for a laugh.

"There's a huge audience," said Lamrock, who is filling the role of "chief comedy officer."

"We were noticing a lot of places that have open mics, even mid-week, were packing the place," he said.

Comic Sutra will be located in the Red Lantern a pub and steakhouse on Fredericton's north side.

And Lamrock said there's an interesting history behind the venue.

When he went to talk to the owners about the potential of doing `comedy in their pub, he said they suggested using the "women's half" for it.

WATCH | 'All sorts of voices have something to say and contribute and be funny':

Kelly Lamrock stands up for laughs

2 days ago

Duration 3:38

Child and youth advocate by day stand-up comedian by night? Kelly Lamrock tells Jeanne Armstrong of Information Morning Fredericton about a new comedy club, located in a building with a surprising history, launching on Nov. 1.

Despite having been to the pub a few times, Lamrock didn't know what they were talking about. He then learned there's actually a second 60-seat bar at the location that is only used occasionally.

"The Lantern is so old that in the 1970s, taverns were regulated separately under statute in New Brunswick, and you had to have a separate place for unaccompanied women," he said.

But now the bar is for everyoneand Lamrock said well-known comedian Line Woods will start hosting an open mic event, called No Man's Land,for women comics, and several of the comedians currently listed on the club's website are also women.

Saint John-based Michelle Petite said there are a fair number of women in the New Brunswick comedy scene and there will be even more announced for Comic Sutra in the future.

"It's nice that we're getting some exposure through this because a lot of the shows you'll see running, there's like, six guys and one girl, or three guys and one girl if it's more of a pro show," she said. "So it's nice when it's femaledominated."

Petite will be headlining the opening weekend for the club on Nov. 1 and 2.

She said there is a professional comedy club in Saint John that often books bigger actsand local comedians will sometimes get to open for them.

There are about 15 open mics a month at different venues across the province, she said, and having a Fredericton club will be a great addition.

Along with performing at the club, she is looking forward to taking in some of its shows.

"Kelly is putting the whole focus on New Brunswick comedians," she said.

As a friend of Lamrock's, she said she's looking forward to some of the things he wants to bring to the club, such asimprov.

And Lamrock said there will also be a night for francophone comedians debuting in 2025.

"All sorts of voices have something to say and contribute and be funny," said Lamrock. "And that's the nice thing about having a permanent home for comedy."