They're the big four, according to comedian Tom Ballard, and he's just about to tick the final destination off his list.

Fresh from touring the Northern Hemisphere and performances at Montreal's Just for Laughs and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Ballard has decided he's in need of new material, and Launceston is just the place to test it out.

"I'm at a stage of the year where I'm going to write new jokes and see how they go - not that I'm treating it as a trial period, we're getting high quality, A-grade comedy, but it will be exciting because it's some of the newer stuff we're talking about at the moment," he said.

"I've spent this year touring my show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred, I did about five festivals in Australia and then I did Edinburgh Fringe and stuff so, great show?

"Sure, but sometimes you've got to move on and create new jokes that will be polished and hawked across the world, so Tasmania is the beginning of that process, but it will still be great."

Ballard is known for his stint as co-host on Triple-J's weekday breakfast show Tom and Alex, appearances on shows such as Spicks 'n' Specks, Good News Week, and Can of Worms, and more recently as host of ABC TV's Reality Check.

Past stand-up shows have involved props and even slideshows, but Ballard said his performance at Fresh Comedy would be pure.

"There is something very romantic to me about the value of just a guy on stage with a microphone telling the truth, I really like that," he said.

"Just me and a microphone, no pyrotechnics."

Tom Ballard will headline Fresh Comedy on October 16, accompanied by Jono Mastrippolito and hosted by Stewart Bell.

Tickets are $15, or $20 on the door.