📰 Reading Rag ’71 – T. Rex Advert: Mar. 1971

Writer: Reading Evening Post

Date: March 2, 1971

Length: 4 min read

A vibrant snapshot of early‑’70s student culture, charity energy, and rising rock‑scene momentum — captured in a single Reading Rag poster announcing a week of performances culminating in a T. Rex‑headlined Rag Day.

A university charity week collides with the ascendant glam‑folk spark of Marc Bolan’s T. Rex.

Reading Rag ’71 brought together charity fundraising, student pageantry, and a lineup of artists on the cusp of wider recognition. At its centre: T. Rex, newly electrified and rapidly gaining national attention.

📰 Key Highlights

• Reading Rag ’71 promotional poster

• T. Rex headlining Rag Day, March 6, 1971

• Support from Stone the Crows and Mick Softly

• Stefan Grossman with Decameron performing March 3

• Vanessa Start crowned Rag Queen ’71

📰 Overview

The Reading Rag was an annual student‑run charity event held at the University of Reading, blending fundraising, concerts, costume processions, and community engagement. By 1971, the Rag had become a major cultural fixture in the region, attracting both local performers and nationally rising acts.

This particular poster — published in the Reading Evening Post on March 2, 1971 — captures the energy of the week’s events. It advertises a mid‑week performance by American guitarist Stefan Grossman with Decameron, followed by a full Rag Day celebration headlined by T. Rex. At this moment, Marc Bolan’s group was transitioning from their folk‑duo roots into the electric glam‑rock force that would soon dominate the charts.

The poster also highlights Vanessa Start as “Rag Queen ’71,” reflecting the pageantry and student‑driven spirit that defined the Rag tradition.

📰 Source Details

Publication / Venue: Reading Evening Post

Date: March 2, 1971

Format: Event Announcement / Promotional Poster

Provenance Notes: Verified via original newspaper clipping; poster typography, pricing, and event details consistent with Reading Rag archival materials.

📰 The Story

The Reading Rag of 1971 unfolded across the first week of March, beginning with smaller events and building toward the main Rag Day festivities. The poster announces a March 3 performance by Stefan Grossman — a respected American acoustic guitarist known for his intricate fingerpicking style — supported by Decameron, a rising British folk‑rock group.

But the centrepiece of the week was Rag Day itself, held on Saturday, March 6. T. Rex, who had recently shortened their name and electrified their sound, were booked as the headline act. This was a pivotal moment for the band: “Ride a White Swan” had recently cracked the UK charts, and Bolan’s transformation into a glam‑leaning pop icon was underway. Their appearance at a student union venue reflects the transitional period before their explosive mainstream breakthrough later in 1971.

Supporting T. Rex were Stone the Crows — a powerhouse blues‑rock outfit fronted by Maggie Bell — and folk singer Mick Softly, known for his influence on Donovan and the British folk revival.

The poster also promotes the Rag procession, scheduled for 11 a.m., and encourages generous giving — a reminder that the Rag was fundamentally a charity event, even as it became a showcase for emerging talent.

📰 Visual Archive

Description:

A Reading Rag ’71 promotional featuring event listings for March 3 and March 6, including Stefan Grossman with Decameron and a T. Rex–headlined Rag Day. The right side features a photograph of Vanessa Start, “Rag Queen ’71,” in velvet hot pants, jersey, maxi waistcoat, and cotton blouse.

📰 Caption

Reading Rag ’71 poster as printed in the Reading Evening Post, March 2, 1971 — announcing T. Rex’s upcoming Rag Day performance.

📰 Related Material

• T. Rex – Early 1971 UK University Performances

• Stone the Crows – Live Appearances 1970–71

• Stefan Grossman – UK Tours, Early 1970s

📰 Closing Notes

This poster captures a moment when student‑run charity events intersected with the rising wave of British rock. Within months, T. Rex would become one of the defining acts of the decade — but here, in early March 1971, they were still close enough to the ground to headline a university Rag Day, playing to a crowd that had no idea how quickly the world was about to change.

#ReadingRag #TRex #StoneTheCrows #StefanGrossman #1971 #ReadingEveningPost #MarcBolan #GlamOrigins

📰 Sources

• Reading Evening Post, March 2, 1971

• Reading Rag archival materials

• Contemporary performance listings

📝 Copyright Notice

All newspaper scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.