By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — His star may be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and his music may still be popular after three decades, but Chris Frantz, drummer for the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club rock groups, cares as much about helping emerging artists as performing himself. 

He is curating a new concert series, “Chris Frantz Presents: Emerging Musicians at the Westport Library,” in the library’s Forum performance space. The concert series begins this Saturday, Dec. 4.

“We are encouraging people to perform, record and show off their skills … we’d like to build a little scene,” where young musicians — and musicians of any age — can come to make music, Frantz said.

Frantz, a Fairfield resident, will be introducing two bands at the inaugural concert, which begins at 7 p.m. Saturday. 

The first band, LuLu Lewis, is a two-person group made up of Pablo Martin, the guitarist in Frantz’s Tom Tom Club, and Dylan Hundley. This is the New York City band’s first performance in Connecticut. A second group, The Problem With Kids Today, is an up-and-coming young Connecticut band from New Haven.

“It’s fantastic to see Lulu Lewis shape up into such a groovy, dark, post-punk band,” Frantz said. “I’m particularly excited to catch The Problem With Kids Today who have caught my eyes, ears, love and attention.”

Frantz said he has been impressed with the Westport Library’s Verso Studios recording space and equipment, which he called “a wonderful performance center, unlike any I’ve seen at any library anywhere.”

When William Harmer, the library’s director, asked Frantz to join in a partnership to bring new musicians to the library space, Frantz agreed. The concert series is part of an effort to encourage young people to perform and to record in the studio. 

“Verso Studios is an excellent studio, not a huge studio, but excellent quality … perfectly good for professional recording,” Frantz said.

Frantz, a drummer, met his wife Tina Weymouth, who a bassist, when they were college students at the Rhode Island School of Design. They formed Talking Heads with another student from the school in 1975. Eventually, Frantz and Weymouth broke away to form the Tom Tom Club, and the group still performs on occasion. Their most recent performance was last summer, Frantz said. 

“With Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, we’re very fortunate that we’re still vey current — young people are still buying our records,” Frantz said. “Some of our records at this point are 40 years old and they still sound hip. That’s very gratifying.”

Last year, Frantz wrote a memoir, “Remain in Love,” about his connection with his wife and music through the years, and he is currently working on a second book. And, as always, he’s interested in helping new, unrecognized musicians. “It’s been going on for 30 or 40 years. I’m happy to help young people, but don’t come to my house!” he joked.

Saturday’s concert is just the first in many concerts to come, the library director said. “We feel honored to … provide a platform for emerging artists to express themselves with this new, exciting, series.” Harmer said.

The concert series is co-sponsored by the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce. “Bringing new music and bands to people’s attention is our goal. You never know if you’ll be seeing the next U2 when you come,” said Matthew Mandell, executive director of the chamber. “Artists needs fans, hopefully we find some.” 

Frantz said he is hopeful that the Westport area will respond to this new series and there are plans in the works for additional concerts. “If it it’s a success — we’ll be doing it again,” he said.

“I think people should tell their friends, and tell them it’s going to be a great evening … it’s going to be loads of fun,” he said.

Tickets to “Chris Frantz Presents: Emerging Musicians at the Westport Library,” cost $10 and can be purchased online here. There will be a cash bar and refreshments.

For more information, call the Westport Library at 203-291-4800.