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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.

Contact us via email at keithbrintzenhoff@gmail.com or via phone at 484-336-9639

Upcoming Events

West Lawn Senior Citizens

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

Explain PG culture/folklore/language/history/music

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

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

All above programs include string instruments (autoharp, banjo, mountain dulcimer, and/or guitar, depending on the program), education, and humor

Past Performances

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

  1. International Artist (performer) of the year, as Dr. Witzelsucht; Hiwwe wie Driwwe (German-American newsletter), Summer, 2020
  2. Calendar cover : Pa. German German Cultural Heritage Center, 2018
  3. Lifetime Achievement Award/Certificate, Culture and Language: German/Pennsylvania Association, 2017
  4. Pa Dutch Culture and Language, as Dr. Witzelsucht, Kutztown Folk Festival, 2016
  5. Music, Culture, and Belsnickel, to Keith and Karlene Brintzenhoff; Oley Fersammling, Nov., 2014
  6. Pa. German Music and Culture, Keith and Karlene Brintzenhoff, Gliederfescht, Kutztown University, 2014