Critic’s Picks

Pop music’s vitality depends on a constant supply of compelling new artists with the talent, command and personal vision to make you look forward to following their work for years.

That’s why the Dido-Travis double bill June 16 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater is one of the summer’s most enticing pop offerings. It brings together two relative newcomers worth monitoring.

Dido is the British singer-songwriter best known as the voice on “Thank You,” the haunting refrain that runs through Eminem’s song “Stan.” She’s an interesting mix of mainstream and dance-world sensibilities. Travis is a wonderfully embracing Scottish band with songs that are uplifting.

But it’s also important to pause from time to time to check up on the veteran artists who continue to do rewarding work. At the top of the list is Radiohead’s return, June 29-30, at the Santa Barbara Bowl. The hugely respected British band’s Los Angeles date will be announced soon. It’s also a good time to reexamine Ani DiFranco, whose new double CD, “Revelling/Reckoning,” reasserts the promise this singer-songwriter showed in the mid-’90s. She’ll be at the Universal Amphitheatre on July 1. Emmylou Harris, who performs July 8 at the Sun Theatre in Anaheim and July 10 at the John Anson Ford Anphitheatre, has been one of the great voices in country music for almost 30 years, but the thing that makes her latest album, “Red Dirt Girl,” so special is her songwriting.

Also of interest: the Flatlanders on Tuesday at the House of Blues in West Hollywood and Wednesday at the House of Blues in Anaheim; Los Van Van at the Conga Room on June 6; Ricardo Arjona at the Universal Amphitheatre on June 10; Plena Libre at the Conga Room on June 22; Paul Simon and Brian Wilson at the Greek Theatre on June 12-13; Sade at Verizon on July 20 and the Hollywood Bowl on July 22-23; Lyle Lovett at the Greek Theatre July 20; Mystikal at the Universal Amphitheatre on Aug. 2; and Los Folkloristas at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on Aug. 5.