Tivoli , Wimborne
Featuring Matt Black, Chris Payn and Jordan Watts
Tonight the Tivoli in Wimborne plays host to three extraordinary talents that have joined forces to create a night of slightly risqué adult-themed music, comedy and mayhem. The Three C’s are local music entrepreneur Matt Black along with his son Chris Payn and his stepson Jordan Watts. All three are top performers individually in their own right, but bring them all together and you have something quite spectacular.
This evening is the first time that The Three C’s have taken their show onto a larger stage, these gatherings were usually reserved for special occasions in local pubs. The fact the trio are in a theatre means a step up in production; with a huge screen spanning the rear of the stage, a full lighting rig, a huge sound system and space to be able to let their antics develop. The whole of the seats in the stalls in the theatre have sold out and after opening the balcony, three quarters of the seats up there have sold too. It just shows how these three entertainers collectively joining together can pull a sizeable audience.
The show opens to the sound of Meat Loaf’s “Bat Outta Hell” and The Three C’s arrive on stage hilariously on a custom made motor trike. These guys never take things too seriously and it’s hard to know when they are joking and when they are being serious. There is clearly a lot of love and respect between them all; however, as with most families there is plenty of exaggerated banter that comes across in a really humorous way. Each individual at the start of the show gets a solo spot to show off their significant talents before joining together to share some comical moments with the audience.
Matt get serious for five minutes with an impassioned speech of how he quit alcoholism and how the love of his family had helped him on his journey to recovery. He also mentioned he lost his Father last year and dedicated the Elton John song “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” to him, apparently it was one of his favourites. Matt and Chris bring the house down with a powerfully emotive version that does their Father/Grandfather proud.
Matt then appears on stage with a keyboard with a strap attached to it, which is an instrument called a Keetar and in a very ‘Spinal Tap’ moment we get treated to a version of Van Halen’s “Jump”. The hilarious look on Matt’s face during the performance are worth the ticket money alone. After a 20 minute interval the trio returns with a string of Rock tracks that get the crowd out of their seats and dancing in the aisles. The unbelievable mash-up of Jan Hammer’s Miami Vice tune “Crockett’s Theme” with Phil Collins “In The Air Tonight” is seriously brilliant.
Anyone who has seen Matt perform before may be aware of his 4 minute version of the film “Titanic”, well tonight things go up a notch with The Three C’s very own Celine Dion…..well, Jordan in a dress; who with his unique Canadian Mega Diva voice belts out “My Heart Will Go On” while Chris is randomly dressed as a guitar playing seagull and Matt provides the side-splitting sound effects from his piano. The sketch gets the loudest cheer of the night from this well entertained audience.
Things continue with some confusion over the setlist as “The Power Of Love” was written down…but which one? So instead we get treated to three different versions, which are each nailed to perfection. The sparkly attire comes off for a fine Abba medley, before Chris cleverly reworks Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” with just one lyric, which has to be seen and heard to be believed!!
The show is not predictable with rib-tickling anecdotes and a chemistry between the three working on all levels. You’d need to be living in the Amazonian Jungle to not know all the words to all the popular songs and as an audience member, it isn’t hard to follow the momentum and sing along with the band.
The show has been so popular that the Tivoli have asked them back for another show in April 2026. If there is any confusion of what The Three C’s stands for at the end of their well-deserved encore, the trio turn around and there it is for all to see emblazoned on the back of their shirts….. The crowd give these three very loveable guys a standing ovation and loads of appreciation for a outstanding evening of entertainment.
Bat Outta’ Hell
Jordan (solo)
Matt (Solo)
Chris (Solo)
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Purple Rain
Jump
Interval
Living On A Prayer
Fat Bottom Girls
Crockett’s Theme/In The Air Tonight
Titanic Theme
The Power Of Love (Celine Dion)
The Power Of Love (Frankie Goes To Hollywood)
The Power Of Love (Huey Lewis and The News)
Abba Medley
Does Your Mother Know
Gimme Gimme Gimme
Winner Takes It All
Don’t You Want Me Baby
Don’t Stop Believing
Duelling Banjos
Sweet Child of Mine
Encore
Relax/Simply The Best/Don’t You, Forget About Me
Videos
Links:
https://matt-black.org
https://www.facebook.com/ChrisPaynOfficial
https://www.facebook.com/jordan.watts.148
Article by David Chinery (Chinners)
Pictures by Lynn Frances Photography
