The Toad Creek Ramblers perpetuate old time musical traditions.
They play a variety of instruments, including fiddle, banjo, guitar, autoharp, and bass.
They specialize in old-timey, folk, country, gospel, bluegrass and hoedown music.
They can be booked for all kinds of affairs, from private barn dances to public festivals.
Keith is an expert on Pennsylvania German music, dance, instruments, and folklore.
He plays a variety of string instruments, tells some of the world's best stories and jokes,
and does lively kid's shows. He calls and teaches hoedowns, and leads the Toad Creek Ramblers
(who play an even greater variety of instruments, as there are more of them.)
At Christmas, he IS the Belsnickel, the Pa. German Santa Claus.
Memorial Hall, Woodside Ave., West Lawn, PA (near Redners)
for
Songs and stories in English and Dutch, with guitar and autoharp
Pa German Christmas customs
Gracedale Nursing Home,2 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth, PA
for
Do the Belsnickel in costume, explain customs, read the Pa Dutch Night Before Christmas
Christmas Program
Frederick Living, 2849 Big Road, Zieglersville, PA
for
Christmas songs and stories in English and Dutch, with guitar and autoharp
Musical entertainment
Heritage at Green Lane 400 Tranquility Lane, Reading, PA
for
Songs and stories in English and Dutch, with guitar and autoharp
Shoemakersville Senior Citizens
Shoemakersville Fire Co. Shoemakersville, PA
for
Songs and stories in English and Dutch
Hain's Prime timers
St. John's Hain's UCC, 591 N. Church Road, Wernersville, PA
for
Songs and stories in English and Dutch, with guitar and autoharp
Autumn Leaves
Senior Center, 8848 Jonestown Road, Grantville, PA
for
Songs and stories in English and Dutch, with guitar and autoharp
Berks Fiddle Fest
Fleetwood Park, Fleetwood, PA
for
All day music, with gospel service at 10, featured bands at 11 and 12, Ceremonies at 1, fiddle contest to follow.
Musical entertainment
Heritage at Green Lane
for
Songs and stories in English and Dutch, with guitar and autoharp
PG History, Culture, and Folklore
The Palmerton, 71 Princeton Ave. Palmerton, PA
for
Talk and explain what the title says
Dreibelbis Farm Festival
Dreibelbis Farm, Virginville
for
Various musical acts most of the afternoon, time to be determined
Senior Luncheon
Grace Lutheran Church, 28 W .Main St., Macungie, PA
for
Songs and stories in English and Dutch, with banjo and autoharp; lunch at 12
Musical entertainment
Keystone Villa ,Blandon
for
Songs and stories in Dutch and English with banjo and autoharp
Entertainment
Holy Guardian Angels Seniors, 3125 Kutztown Road, Reading
for
Songs and stories in Dutch and English, with guitar and autoharp
Old Time Music Festival,
Maier's Grove, Blandon
for
Festival starts at 10, goes all afternoon; many different programs, mine will be Muti-instrumental (75 min.), and concert (45 min,), times to be scheduled
Folk Arts on the Farm
Hausman Fruit Farm, 282 Limeport Pike, Coopersburg, PA 18036
for
Same as yesterday.
Folk Arts on the Farm
Hausman Fruit Farm, 282 Limeport Pike, Coopersburg, PA 18036
for
Festival from !0:00 AM until 6:00PM, I will do 2 adult shows, and one kid's show, to be scheduled; MANY other events, plus vendors
Musical entertainment
St. Luke's Miner's Campus, 360 W. Ruddle St., Coaldale, PA 18218
for
Songs and stories in Dutch and English, with guitar and autoharp, especially polkas
Barn Dance
Quiet Valley Historical Farm, 347 Quiet Valley Road, Stroudsburg, PA
for
Hoedown with live music, starting time approximate, ending time at dusk. Lots of fun, beginners welcome
Bernville Young at Heart
Bernville Grange Hall
for
Songs and stories in Dutch and English, with guitar and autoharp
Musical entertainment
Golden Seniors of Spies Church, Spies Church Road, Reading, PA 19606
for
Meeting at 1:00; entertainment, especially country songs later
Entertainment
Blue Mountain Restaurant, Shartlesville
for
Songs and stories in Dutch and English, with guitar and autoharp
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown,1565 S. Keim St., Pottstown
for
Talk about the importance of PG, with examples, plus songs and instruments
Strawberry Festival
Zion Union Church, Rt. 222, Maxatawny, PA
for
Songs and stories, outside, during the festival.
Musical entertainment
The Palmerton, 71 Princeton Ave. Palmerton, PA
for
Patriotic/military songs; lunch for residents at 12:30
Songs and Stories
Center at Spring St., 200 W. Spring St., Boyertown, PA
for
Entertainment, with guitar and autoharp
Musical entertainment
Heilman House, 45 Home Road, Topton, PA
for
Old time folk and country songs with Tom and Betty Druckenmiller, on banjo, fiddle, guitar, and autoharp
PG humor
Hamburg Historical Society
for
Dr. Witzelsucht, Pa. Dutch comedian, like Prof. Schnitzel, in Dutch and English, with some music
Entertainment
Legacy Place Cottages, 2051 Bevin St., Allentown, PA
for
Bluegrass and hoedown songs, with stories, on guitar and autoharp
Entertainment
Maidencreek Place, 105 Dries Road, Reading, PA, 19605
for
Old time folk, country, and gospel songs and stories in English and Pa. Dutch, with guitar and autoharp
Entertainment
57 N. Church St., Mohnton, PA
for
Old time folk, country, and gospel songs in English and Pa. Dutch, with guitar and autoharp
Sing along entertainment
Grand View Manor,129 Houck Road, Fleetwood,PA
for
Songs and stories in PG and English, with guitar and autoharp
Songs and stories with guitar and autoharp
Keystone Villa at Fleetwood 501 Hoch Rd, Blandon, PA 19510, USA
for
Private, for more info, call Keith at 484-336-9639
Heritage at Green Lane
Tranquility Ln, Cumru Township, PA 19607, USA
for
English and Irish songs and stories, with humor, on guitar and autoharp, private
Frederic Living
2840 Big Rd, Zieglerville, PA 19492
for
Songs and stories in English and PG, with guitar and autoharp
Laureldale Senior Club
1009 Elizabeth Ave, Laureldale, PA 19605, USA
for
Old time Country, folk, bluegrass, and gospel, plus humor, with guitar and autoharp
Pa. German (Dutch) language class
Berks History Center, 940 Centre Ave, Reading, PA 19601, USA
for
with history, culture, folklore, and music
b.neely@berkshistory.org, 610-375-4375 ext 109
Gallery
Dr. Witzelsucht, PA Dutch ComedianHumanities on the Road - Keith on AutoharpKeith Brintzenhoff & Dave Miller at Heemet Fescht
Toad Creek Duo
Half the band for half the price! More jokes and stories with autoharp,
guitar, and banjo or fiddle. Almost too much fun for only two guys!
Speaker Resume
Keith Brintzenhoff was a Commonwealth Speaker for the Pa. Humanities
Council (and in their TV series) for 10 years His topic was Pa.
German music, dance, instruments, culture, folklore, and language. He
was, and still is, a school teacher, with a B.A. in Sociology from
Albright College, and a Masters in Elementary Education from Kutztown
University (and many more credits). He taught Pa. German language (with
culture, folklore, and history) as a 3 credit course for 3 years at
Kutztown University. He studied autoharp with some of the best in the
world, and was consultant for the one built by Folkcraft Instruments
of Connecticut. He has investigated the mountain dulcimer and it's Pa.
German connections, and discussed this with the researcher who did his
doctoral dissertation on this instrument. He also plays guitar and
banjo. He is musical advisor for the Kutztown Folk Festival, founder,
emcee, music coordinator, and band leader for the Berks Fiddle Fest,
as well as a performer. Included in his many performances are: Hershey
Museum; Historic Schaefferstown; Der Dutch Peddler Homecoming
(Ohio);Berks County Heritage Festival;
Lyons Fiddle Festival;
Mayfair; Mercer Museum Folk Festival; Reading Liederkranz; Landis Valley Farm
Museum; Musikfest (Bethlehem);SEVEN tours in Germany (some with
partner and/or band);700th anniversary of Switzerland Fescht in his
ancestral home town of Brenzigkoffen;. Included also are many
appearances on radio and TV, in the US and Germany, plus 3 C.D.s, and
music for several videos and films.
PA Dutch Music and Folklore
From mostly educational to mostly entertaining, see and hear in person the music,
instruments, and dance of the Pennsylvania Germans, using guitar, autoharp, mountain dulcimer,
banjo, spoons, nose flute (?), and a few others. Edification, entertainment, and amazement
with stories and songs.
Hoedowns
Have a private or public hoedown/square dance/barn dance with live music (or CD).
Simplified instructions to complex dances, small or large groups, good in school programs.
Belsnickel
The PA Dutch Santa Claus, a mean and cranky old guy, with switch and a bag of goodies.
Just like they did it in the good old days, spoken in PA Dutch (with English translation.)
Heavy on the acting, light on the humor.
Can also include a reading of the hilarious PA Dutch "Night Before Christmas" (in English),
and/or a reading of the ORIGINAL translation of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," in PA Dutch,
done in 1880 Reading.
Programs / Themes
Pa. German (Dutch) music, instruments, and dance; history, demonstration, and performance;
in costume; speaker on these subjects for 10 years, and in their TV series,
for the Pa. Humanities Council; educational and entertaining
Entertainment: Songs and stories in English and Pa. Dutch, with string instruments,
to match your audience; featured at the Kutztown Folk Festival for over 30 years
Belsnickel: The Pa Dutch Santa Claus, in costume, in Dutch, with English translations,
plus "The Pa. Dutch Night Before Christmas," (in English), and a few other very interesting choices
Kids songs and stories, in English, with string instruments;
on Kid's Stage at the Kutztown Folk Festival (many years), Mayfair, and other festivals
German / American songs and stories, in 4 languages: English, German, Dutch, and dumb.....;
with string instruments
Civil War songs and stories, in authentic clothing, all authentic
Irish / American songs and stories; real Irish and Irish / American
Train songs: always on the right track.....
Patriotic: a big variety, including military
Gospel: of all kinds, some included in other programs
Cowboy/Western: all types, including the WHOLE version of Clementine
Colonial: from the early, and pre, USA
Christmas: of all kinds, sacred and secular, with no Belsnickel, plus much culture
Dr. Witzelsucht: A Pa Dutch comedian,just like Prof. Schnitzel,in formal attire,
with lots of humor and music (including banjo), Appeared at Kutztown Folk Festival many times,
Berks County Fersammling, Berks County Heritage Festival, Shartlesville Anniversary Festival,
Groundhog Lodge #1, PennMArt Festival (Allentown Fairgrounds),and on BCTV in Reading.
Presentation can be entirely in Dutch, or mostly in English.
All above programs include string instruments (autoharp, banjo, mountain dulcimer, and/or guitar, depending
on the program), education, and humor
Past Performances
Kutztown Folk Festival (solo and duo, all stages, over 30 years)
Landis Valley Harvest Festival (duo)
Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia
Northwestern Lehigh Elementary School Fall Festival (hoedowns)
Berks County Heritage Center (solo, duo band)
Goschenhoppen Folk Festival
Mercer Museum Folk Festival (duo)
Berks Fiddle Fest
(formerly Lyons Fiddle Festival), founder, emcee, music coordinator, band leader, performer
Pa. German Cultural Heritage Center (Easter on the Farm, Heemet Fescht, Christmas on the Farm), Kutztown
University
Daniel Boone Homestead (duo), and Christkindelmarkt
Quiet Valley Living HIstory Farm
PennMart Festival (Allentown Fairgrounds)
Schwenkfelder Museum/Library
Ephrata Cloister
Lancaster County Historical Society
Mt. Gretna Summer Concerts (duo)
Berks County Fersammling (board member, main speaker, 2017)
Christkindelmarkt, Bethlehem
Strawberry Festivals (duo)
Grundsow Lodges (duo, band, main speaker-GL#1, 2017)
FIVE tours in Germany, one in Switzerland (solo and band)
MANY Historical Societies, libraries, retirement homes, senior centers, including Country Meadows
(Wyomissing,Wescosville, York)
MANY hoedowns with band or CD
Teaser/trailer for "Blue-eyed Six" major film
Square dance consultant for 5th novel by Mrs. Mangum (North Carolina)
MANY radio and TV appearances, U.S. and Germany
Pa. Humanities Council speaker; one of 24 chosen for their 2 year TV series for the Pa. Cable Network
Pa. German C.D.; Kutztown Music C.D; Sampler C.D. (sent upon request)
German Language Classes
Public classes offered occasionally at various sites in Berks County, and
private ones also possible. Please contact me directly by email or phone.
Honors and Awards
International Artist (performer) of the year, as Dr. Witzelsucht; Hiwwe wie Driwwe (German-American
newsletter), Summer, 2020
Calendar cover : Pa. German German Cultural Heritage Center, 2018
Lifetime Achievement Award/Certificate, Culture and Language: German/Pennsylvania Association, 2017
Pa Dutch Culture and Language, as Dr. Witzelsucht, Kutztown Folk Festival, 2016
Music, Culture, and Belsnickel, to Keith and Karlene Brintzenhoff; Oley Fersammling, Nov., 2014
Pa. German Music and Culture, Keith and Karlene Brintzenhoff, Gliederfescht, Kutztown University, 2014