Sorocaba is a major city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with around 762,000 people. Founded in the 17th century and formally established as a town in 1661, it became an important centre on the routes used by tropeiros, the cattle and mule traders who travelled through southern and southeastern Brazil. Industrialisation accelerated after the arrival of the Sorocabana Railway in the 19th century, and the city later developed into one of the region’s main manufacturing centres, particularly in metalworking, automotive production and engineering. Sorocaba lies about 100 kilometres west of São Paulo and has a large modern urban centre alongside parks, museums and remnants of its railway and industrial heritage. Among its better-known attractions are the Quinzinho de Barros Municipal Zoo and the historic railway district. Sorocaba also has a long-established rock scene: Bill Haley and His Comets performed here during their 1958 Brazilian tour, an early landmark for rock music in the city, while a substantial local underground scene has developed in the decades since.

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